Multicoloured algal blooms in the NW Adriatic during 2018 The northern Adriatic is characterized by shallow waters (mean depth about 35 m), a weak bathymetric gradient along the main axis and a high riverine input on the western side, affecting both the circulation regime and the trophic status. As a consequence, the productivity of the western coastal waters of the North Adriatic is markedly higher compared to the general oligotrophic conditions of the Mediterranean Sea. The spatial distribution and the seasonal variability of phytoplankton communities in the Adriatic Sea are mainly driven by major river discharge (and therefore by the rainfall regime), in combination with the stratification/ mixing condition [1]. Since the last decade, the irregularity of meteorological events has markedly altered the seasonal cycle of phytoplankton. During rainy years, the very intense and sudden rainfall has caused anomalous blooms throughout the year [2]. This was observed during 2018, when several intense anomalous blooms occurred along the Marche coast (northern Adriatic Sea) associated with water discoloration. Here we have summarized the major events that occurred. In April an exceptional bloom of the diatom Chaetoceros socialis (Fig 1) reaching cell densities of 107 cells Fig. 1. Chaetoceros socialis intricate colonies. Fig. 2 Greenish waters due to Vicicitus globosus bloom. Fig. 3. Brick-red water discoloration from a Fibrocapsa japonica bloom. 14 l-1 caused an intense brown water discoloration along the Ancona coasts. Blooms of that species are not common, although they have been reported in the past. No cases of anoxia or mortality of benthic organisms were reported. In May, an unusual green coloration extended for several kilometres offshore, causing concern among bathers and yachtsmen. Microscopy analysis revealed that the causative organism of this bloom was the dictyochophycean Vicicitus globosus (formerly Chattonella globosa, raphidophytes, Fig 2). The presence of V. globosus in this area was reported only once in 2012 [3], and although this species is indicated as potential fish killer, fish mortalities were not observed. In July in the coastal waters north of Ancona, an intense bloom of the raphidophyte Fibrocapsa japonica was observed (Fig 3), causing a brick-red discoloration. The first report of a F. japonica bloom in the Adriatic Sea dates back to 1997 in the Marche coast [4] and a bloom generically ascribed to raphidophyceans was reported in the southern part of Emilia Romagna coast even in 1994 [5]. F. japonica blooms reach cell densities of 107 cells l-1 and have occurred almost each year in July August, both in Marche and Emilia Romagna coasts, typically extending from the shoreline to 300 m offshore and showing an intensification of colour in the early afternoon. Except for a detriment to tourism and recreational activities due to the intense water discoloration, fish kills have been observed only once in front of the Ancona port, but autopsies revealed that the cause of death was not due to haemolytic toxins, but to asphyxia [6]. In August, a greenish- brown water discoloration was observed due to an intense proliferation of an unidentified gymnodinioid (Fig. 4), and in November an impressive green tide due to a mixed diatom community and Prorocentrum cordatum (Fig. 5) extended from the shoreline to several kilometres offshore. Such events have been related to the intense and irregular rainfalls that occurred during 2018, causing sudden massive releases of nutrient-rich HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 63 / 2019 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 63 - December 2019 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Harmful Algal Blooms in a Changing Climate In September 2019 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approved and accepted the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere New Initiative on Fish-Killing Algal Blooms An Advanced International Colloquium and Technical Workshop on Fish-Killing HABs under the auspices of IOC-IPHAB and GlobalHAB, and with the support of the government of Chile through CORFO and collaboration of CREAN-IFOP, was held in Puerto Varas, Chile, IOC-SCOR GlobalHAB Workshop: Evaluating, Reducing and Mitigating the Cost of Harmful Algal Blooms: a Compendium of Case Studies Over the last two decades, several reports have compiled what is known about the economic impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) [1-4]. Although these reports attempted to Several examples of HAB-related losses and loss mitigation were discussed at the workshop in detail. A HAB incident in northern Norway alone resulted in the loss of 14 thousand tons of Atlantic salmon in May 2019, resulting in a total loss of at least 330 million USD, including insured losses of 45 Massive fish mortality in Teluk Bahang, Penang, Malaysia caused by a hypoxia-inducing algal bloom Fish kill events due to algal blooms have been increased dramatically over the past decades. Several massive fish kill events have been reported in Malaysia [1-5]. Among the incidents reported, some are Blooms of the potentially harmful raphidophyte Chattonella antiqua and the occurrence of the epiphytic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata in the coastal waters of Alexandria, Egypt coastal marine areas. Blooms of this genus are usually accompanied by goldenbrown seawater discoloration due to their Table 1. Seawater physical and chemical parameters during the summer 2019 Chattonella bloom mg O2/L Nutrient concentration μM C Salinit y pH DO COD PO4 SiO4 NO2 NO3 NH4 35.00 17.8 8.64 6.3 22.5 13.35 58 12.6 20.6 45.2 TN SiO4 PO4 Table 2. Physical and chemical properties of First records of Gambierdiscus excentricus and Ostreopsis lenticularis in the Cape Verde Archipelago (Macaronesia, Central Eastern Atlanctic) Fig. 1. Map of Cape Verde archipelago (Macaronesia Region). Harmful algal blooms (HAB) species frequently recorded in tropical latitudes are apparently incr Fig. 3. Gambierdiscus excentricus. Scanning electron micrographs, apical and ventral views mostly on the left side of the cell. The second apical plate (2) was narrow and elongated, and located below the APC, extending dorsally to the Po plate, and reaching about the mid-position of the 3 plate. Pl Microcystis bloom in Saladito river, central-southern Cuba Fig. 1. Map showing the cyanobacterial bloom area in Saladito River, central-southern Cuba. Water blooms or simply blooms in freshwater reservoirs are mass accumulations of planktonic microalgae or cyanobacteria. Water blooms (Wasserblüte) the center of the colony; a few solitary cells may appear in the mucilage. In our populations the typical solitary cells in mucilage were not observed, neither the concentrically lamellated margins. It is possible that the Cuban specimens could be identified as M. panniformis or M. novacekii, but fu Citizen Science Oceanography in the Strait of Georgia, Canada an overview of five years of operations The Citizen Science Oceanography Program for the coastal waters of British Columbia (BC), Canada was proposed by Dr. Eddy Carmack, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Carmack envisioned a mosquito f harm (e.g. fish kills, shellfish poisoning) at very low concentrations. In the latter case, they are still called blooms because of their effects. These types of blooms can be invisible to the naked eye and only in-situ sampling can detect them. During five years of observations, the heaviest blooms Multicoloured algal blooms in the NW Adriatic during 2018 The northern Adriatic is characterized by shallow waters (mean depth about 35 m), a weak bathymetric gradient along the main axis and a high riverine input on the western side, affecting both the circulation regime and the trophic status. As Fig. 4. A bloom of an unidentified gymnodinioid caused a brown-greenish discoloration. Fig. 6. Ostreopsis cf. ovata bloom causing bleaching of macroalgal thalli. Fig. 5. Green colored waters from a mixed bloom of diatoms and Prorocentrum cordatum. Fig. 7. Field sample showing Takayama tasmanica a A bloom of Prorocentrum triestinum in the Hossegor Marine Lake (France) Phytoplankton communities in the Hossegor marine lake (Southern French Atlantic coast, Fig. 1) have been monthly monitored since 1997 to protect human health (REPHY network: monitoring of toxin producing species which may contam The ICES Annual Science Conference 2019 The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) annual science conference took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, 9-12th Sept 2019 with 738 participants from 38 countries attending. The conference opened with a lively panel discussion around sustaina 11th Irish Shellfish Safety Workshop At the 11th Shellfish Safety Workshop held in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone, Ireland, Joe Silke, Director of Marine Environment and Food Safety Services at the Marine Institute said, Irelands Shellfish Safety Monitoring Programme ensures that shellfish placed on Fig. 2. Oyster Farm. Photo courtesy of Fionn OFearghail, Marine Institute Marine Institute The Marine Institute is the state agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. The Marine Institute provides government, public agencies and the maritime industry The 33rd annual meeting of the Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany (ASPAB) The 33rd annual ASPAB meeting was held at NIWAs Greta Point site in Wellington, New Zealand on 11-13 November 2019. This year most presentations were on macroalgae although in the past microalgae and HABs ha Forthcoming events Call for abstracts - ICHA 2020 The Organizing Committee is pleased to announce the call for abstracts and pre-registration for the 19th International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms to be held from the 11th to the 16th of October 2020 in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. La 12th International Conference on Modern and Fossil Dinoflagellates The Canarian HABs Observatory (OCH) hosts the 12th edition of the International Conference on Modern and Fossil Dinoflagellates (DINO12), to be held from 13th to 17th July 2020 at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Canteras beach, L