ble are toxic harmful dinoflagellates that produce a suite of toxins, including Alexandrium catenella and Gymnodinium catenatum (saxitoxins), Dinophysis caudata (okadaic acid congeners), and benthic HAB (Ostreopsis cf ovata, palytoxins, and Prorocentrum lima, okadaic acid). These toxins can directly impact humans when consumed via contaminated seafood. This study has shown that harmful dinoflagellates are present in Nigerian waters in high cell densities characteristic of bloom levels. There is the need to undertake a continuous surveillance programme for harmful algal bloom detection. Implementation of routine harmful algal monitoring programmes for Nigeria will provide valuable information for the management of coastal resources and help provide early warning signals of harmful algal bloom events in the region. Acknowledgements The authors thank TETFUND for funding this research through a grant awarded to the first author. Omoruyi Osasere, Timothy Unusiotame-Owolagba, Isagba Solomon and Mukoro Dennise are also acknowledged for their help with sample collections. Plate 1. Light micrographs of some dinoflagellates from Nigerian coastal waters. A. Prorocentrum sp.; B. Prorocentrum micans; C. Phalacroma hastatum; D. Lingulodinium polyedrum; E. Protoperidinium elegans; F. Tripos (=Ceratium) macroceras; G. Tripos cf vulture; H. Dinophysis caudata; I. Gymnodinium catenatum; J. Noctiluca scintillans; K. Alexandrium sp; L. Prorocentrum gracile; M. Tripos furca. Tripos (354 x 103 L-1) in October while Prorocentrum spp. and Scrippsiella spp. showed cell maxima of 871 x 103 L-1 and 549 x 103 L-1 respectively in January. Qualitative data showed Alexandrium spp., Tripos furca, Tripos fusus, Prorocentrum micans, P. gracile, Lingulodinium polyedrum, Heterocapsa niei and Scrippsiella trochoidea as the most widely distributed taxa in the study area (Plate 1). Increased occurrence of harmful algae in recent years have been ascribed to coastal eutrophication, global climate change as well as increased awareness [6]. Higher cell numbers of harmful dinoflagellates in the south-west locations relative to the other locations may be due to increased nutrient inputs via effluent discharge from various in8 dustries found especially in Lagos and Ogun States and several coastal development projects particularly in Lagos. On the other hand, low cell densities of harmful dinoflagellates observed in the south are attributable to lower salinities owing to the diluting effect of the Niger deltaic inflow into the Gulf of Guinea [7] A number of harmful effects [8] have been ascribed to the dinoflagellates found in our studies, including species that can form high biomass blooms and cause indiscriminate kills of fish and invertebrates through oxygen depletion, clogging and excess mucus stimulation of fish gills. Included among these are Tripos furca, T. fusus, T. tripos, Prorocentrum micans, Noctiluca scintillans and Scrippsiella trochoidea. Also nota- References 1. Tillmann U et al 2008. Harmful Algae 7:5264 2. Ibe AC & TO Ajayi 1985. NIOMR Tech Publ 25: 1-30 3. Ajuzie CC & GT Houvenaghel 2009. Fottea 9(1):107-120 4. Kadiri MO 2011. Acta Bot. Hung. 5: 137143 5. Lackey JB 1938. Public Health Reports 53: 2080-2093 6. Hallegraeff GM 2003. In: Manual on Harmful Marine Microalgae (Monographs on Oceanographic Methodology, UNESCO Publishing, France), pp. 2549 7. Zendong Z et al 2016. Toxicon 114: 16-27 8. Hallegraeff GM 2014. In: Toxins and Biologically Active Compounds from Microalgae, Volume 1: Origin, Chemistry and Detection (CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group), pp. 3-20. Authors Medina Kadiri, Department of Plant Biology & Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria Jeffrey Ogbebor, Department of Environmental Management & Toxicology, University of Benin, Nigeria Email: jeffreyogbebor@uniben.edu HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 57 / 2017 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 57 - June 2017 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Unusual fish killing blooms of Tripos furca in Van Phong Bay, South Viet Nam In the beginning of November 2016, a phytoplankton bloom was observed by fisherman in Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam Fig. 2. Chl-a distribution in coastal waters of Khanh Hoa province during 14th October to 25th November 2016 (sources: MODIS-Aqua Level 2 images, NASA). Clear skies were observed on 14th October, and 11th, 13th, 15th, 22nd, 25th November, while the other days were very cloudy. High chl-a concentrati vung-sim-2461816/ 3. Nguyen VN et al 2014. In: Kim HG et al (eds) Harmful Algae 2012. Proc15th ICHA (ISSHA) pp 48-51 4. Hodgkiss IJ & Lu S 2004. In: Asian Pacific Phycology in the 21st Century: Prospects and Challenges, pp 215-229 5. Machida M et al 1999. Nippon Suisan Gakk 65: 755756 6. Mat Mortality of Chilean farmed salmon in wellboats in transit through a Karenia bloom Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of the stations sampled near the Gulf of Penas, Chile, between 31st January and 1st February 2017. A mass mortality of around 170,000 salmon, worth US$ 390,000, was recorded on wellbo Fig. 3. Density (cells L-1) of Karenia spp. in water samples of the vicinity of the Gulf of Penas. nels, composed mainly of diatoms. Most Karenia (ex Gymnodinum) species produce toxins that can kill fish and other marine organisms when they bloom. In addition to toxicity, some Karenia blooms cause A bloom of Amphidinium carterae in Ria de Aveiro, Portugal Fig. 1. Ria de Aveiro and oyster farm location. Amphydinium carterae is a benthic unarmored cosmopolitan dinoflagellate classed as a fish killer due to its capacity to produce hemolytic compounds such as amphidinols [1] and polyhydroxyl car Harmful dinoflagellates in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria, West Africa Fig. 1. Coastal map of Nigeria showing the study area. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are worldwide phenomena [1]. The increasing spread, frequency and severity of harmful algal incidents have been well documented and have led to the ble are toxic harmful dinoflagellates that produce a suite of toxins, including Alexandrium catenella and Gymnodinium catenatum (saxitoxins), Dinophysis caudata (okadaic acid congeners), and benthic HAB (Ostreopsis cf ovata, palytoxins, and Prorocentrum lima, okadaic acid). These toxins can directly Satellite detection of Trichodesmium blooms in the Southwestern Pacific and the Tonga trench [2]. This area coincides with high nitrogen fixation rates [3]. There are numerous correlations between the observations of surface mats in the ocean and high reflectance In the oceans, a large portion of t Fig. 2a) MODIS image of the Trichodesmium bloom with white and green mats between Vanuatu Islands and New Caledonia in December 2014; with Landsat 8 zooms on mats superimposed and the microscopic observation of Trichodesmium colonies in surface samples at the SPOT station visited with R/V Alis; b) P Plankton Planet in New Zealand Plankton Planet is the first citizen science programme designed for biological oceanography. It is a co-operation between scientists and volunteers from the sailing community based on mass sequencing of DNA barcodes from the extracts of plankton communities collected w Molluscan Shellfish Safety Conference in Ireland Over 230 international delegates from 27 countries participated in the 11th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS) from Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 May 2017 at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Convened by Irelands Marin 13th Session of the Intergovernmemntal Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) established under the auspices of IOC of UNESCO. Over that period IPHAB has provided the international framework for region Forthcoming events will be held at the 10 Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (10 IPFC ), 2-6 October 2017, Tahiti, French Polynesia (https:// ipfc10.criobe.pf/). Organizers: Mireille Chinain, Susanna Piovano, Jean Turquet, Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui-Bottein (mchinain@ilm.pf; susanna.piovano@usp.ac.fj; Turque Scientific Committee Topics: Advances in the analysis of existing and emerging marine and freshwater toxins. Ann Abraham, FDA, US Mass spectrometry, molecular methods, toxicity assays, bioassays and screening tests. Arjen Gerssen, WUR, NL Structural characterization of new potential toxins. Ja the 18th international conference on harmful algae from ecosystems to socio-ecosystems SAVE the date! FATMA GUELLATI/UPMC-UNIV BADJI MOKHTAR Minyvel Environnement/Phenomer Nicolas Chomérat/IFREmer Véronique Séchet/IFREmer Olivier BARBAROUX/IFREmer Stéphane LESBATS/IFREmer Olivier DUG Ted Smayda in Memoriam 10 April 2017 This year the HAB and research community lost another giant intellect. Professor Theodore J. Smayda, (Ted as he preferred to be called) passed away after a period of illness. A graduate of the Braarud School of phytoplankton ecology of Oslo, Norway, Ted held uniq IV INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM, June 4-8, Washington DC Organized by ICES, PICES, IOC and NOAA Fisheries The 4th International Symposium will bring together experts from around the world to better understand climate impacts on ocean ecosystems and how to respond. The Symposium will Highlight the latest