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 the sub- tortum [1]. Observations of Trichodes- on the MODIS satellite, as for example at Contact Cecile.dupouy@ird.fr tropical and tropical pelagic areas are mium accumulations (termed mats) the East of New Caledonia in 2002 (Fig. dominated by oligotrophic conditions. Thearound merchant (Fig. 1b, Aknowledgement: FrenchNew NavyCaledonia and the by Aeronaval Basis 1a) of and New2004 Caledonia is Fig. 1c ,Fig 1 d) The cyanobacterial diazotrophfor commuships, Navy, R/Vprogram Alis and with volunand inand January 2017 (Fig. 1e). In sumacknowledged participation in French the observation R/V Batral R/V Jacques nity, composed Cartier, of unicellular, filamentary observers of positive 2003, at the peak as well as Captain and crew from theare IRDthe R/Vresult Alis ship. The MODISmer image was provided by of a moderate Norman Kuring, NASA. tous, and diatoms-symbiotic (DDAs, cell buoyancy which brings together tri- 2001-2003 El Niño, a Trichodesmium diatom-diazotroph associations) forms chomes and colonies at the sea surface spp maximum of 4,500 trichomes L-1 Figure captions are every summer [2]. Trichodesmium is was observed in the Loyalty Channel, a is dominant. Major species 1True color images of the areaobserved off New Caledonia showing mats in white around themuch islands. Trichodesmium erythraeum Ehrenberg mainly around New Caledonia concentration lower than in New White crosses: Visual observations from the French Navy and corresponding microphotographies and T. thiebautii Gomont, two species of and Vanuatu and a Katagnymene form Caledonia lagoon surface accumulaof Trichodesmium in formaline samples : a) in November 2002, b) in January and February 2004 c), Katagnymene (K. pelagica and K. spiralis was observed between Niue Island and tions which can reach 20,000 trichomes Fi 1d: surface trichodesmium mats from the French Navy ship La Glorieuse in January 2004. Lemmerman), and Richelia intracelluTonga in [2]. L-1 [4]. blooms may Different forms of Trichodesmium areDecember observed, 2002 T. Erythraeum, T. Thiebautii, and Trichodesmium Katagnymene laris as components of DDAs [1]. Weak In the southwest tropical Pacific, satspread to cover enormous sea surface spiralis mixed. winds (< 4 m s-1) andFig. calm conditions ellite and aerial observations showed areas. In December 2014, a huge sur1d. A picture of a mat from the Gardian flight in January 2017 (courtesy J. Aucan) are independent factors allow image the ofpresence of 3000 km long sur- Vanuatu face bloom detected by MODIS coincidFig. 2.which The MODIS the Trichodesmium bloom between Islands and New in December with the microscopic observation of Trichodesmium colonies inof Trichodesmium accumulations ofCaledonia Trichodesmium on the 2014 face blooms of Trichodesmium, mainly ed with observations surface samples at the SPOT station withofthe R/VMelanesian Alis ship ar- mats (Fig. 2a,b) during a SPOT cruise surface of the sea, in particular T. erytharoundvisited islands the http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=85073 raeum, which has a stronger positive chipelago, i.e. Vanuatu, New Caledonia, on board R/V Alis [5] and was followed buoyancy than T. thiebautii and T. con- and as far east as the Fijian archipelago until March [6]. Mat observations are X X X X Fig. 1a-c) True color MODIS images off New Caledonia showing mats as high reflectance in white around the islands. White crosses: Visual observations corresponding to microscope micrographs of Trichodesmium in formalin fixed samples collected by the French Navy in: November 2002 (a); January 2004 (b); February 2004 (c). d-f): A mixture of different forms of Trichodesmium observed: T. erythraeum, T. thiebautii, and Katagnymene spiralis found in observations on satellite images indicated by a cross. g) Surface Trichodesmium mats (from the French Navy ship La Glorieuse in January 2004). h) Picture of a mat captured during a New Caledonia Gardian airflight in January 2017 (courtesy Jérôme Aucan). HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 57 / 2017 9 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