International validation and recognition of method for paralytic shellfish toxins in bivalve molluscs Food safety scientists from Cefas (UK) and Cawthron Institute (New Zealand) have led an international study over the past four years to gain international recognition for a new method to quantify paralytic shellfish toxins in shellfish. It was a truly global study, incorporating 21 participating laboratories from five continents. An extensive process took place involving three pre-trials, and an enormous amount of work sourcing, testing, preparing, stabilising, and characterising study materials and shellfish samples from all around the world. The collaboration between the two science organisations began in 2014 when Cawthron scientist Mike Boundy spent 3 months in Dr Turners laboratory at the Weymouth Cefas facility on a Queen Elizabeth II technicians award. It had been known for some time that it was possible to chromatographically separate paralytic shellfish toxin analogues found in contaminated shellfish using HILIC chromatography. However, enhancement/suppression effects observed when monitoring the toxins in shellfish extracts were substantial and needed to be mitigated to allow development of a robust method. This technical challenge was overcome using graphitised carbon solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges during sample preparation prior to analysis. This procedure Cawthron marine toxin analysts Emilie Burger, Michael Boundy, Dr Tim Harwood (L to R). 16 could be performed manually or using a liquid handling robot. Following the development and single laboratory validation of the method [1,2] it was included within the routine regulatory monitoring programme within New Zealand, with ISO17025 accreditation since 2016. During this time, it has had strong support from both regulators and industry. The method is well suited for the high throughput routine testing demands with the workflow allowing more samples to be analysed each day with faster, easier and more accurate results. Results from the collaborative study demonstrated not just excellent performance across a variety of shellfish species, but also the ability of laboratories that use a wide range of instrument models to successfully run the method for both regulatory testing and research. The method provides accurate quantitation with higher throughput and greater specificity than existing methods of analysis with reduced complexity for the analysts. In addition, the method includes additional paralytic shellfish toxin analogues as well as tetrodotoxin (TTX), which to date have not been incorporated into any other hydrophilic marine toxin official method of analysis. The full results of the interlaboratory validation study have recently been published [3]. It is recommended that the method is used as an official alternative method for the quantitative determination of PSTs and TTX in mussels, oysters, clams, scallops, and cockles. It has been approved for regulatory testing in New Zealand and Australia, with other countries now considering its use. Acknowledgments We wish to sincerely thank all study participants for their time and considerable efforts in setting up the method, running the samples, and reporting the results. Thanks also to all those who supplied shellfish tissue materials for use in the study, including those who shipped materials but did not enter into the final study samples. References 1. Boundy et al 2015. J Chromatogr A 1387: 1-12. 2. Turner et al 2015. J AOAC Int 98, 3: 609621. 3. Turner AD et al 2020. J AOAC Int, https:// doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.19-0240 Authors Tim Harwood & Michael Boundy, Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7010, New Zealand Andrew Turner, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Barrack Rd, The Nothe, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, United Kingdom Email corresponding author: tim.harwood@cawthron.org.nz CEFAS Aquatic Toxins Team. Study co-ordinator Dr Andy Turner is located front middle. HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 64 / 2020 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 64 - June 2020 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab The IOC Taxonomic Reference List of Harmful Microalgae The creation of the IOC Taxonomic Reference List of Harmful Microalgae was first discussed 23 years ago at the Fourth Session of the ever the information presented in publications is not always easy to interpret. Toxic blooms often contain several species and studies on individual species are therefore required to determine the species responsible for the toxin production. In addition, species are sometimes difficult to identify considered this to be identical to the previously described P. mexicanum [9]. This statement makes little sense, and Loeblich et al in fact do not mention P. mexicanum in their article. Faust [8] illustrated material which resembled P. rhathymum using the radical arrangement of some of the trichocys Massive salmon mortalities during a Chrysochromulina leadbeateri bloom in Northern Norway From mid May to mid June 2019, fish farmers along the coast of Nordland and Troms, northern Norway, experienced sudden mortalities of caged salmon [1] (Fig. 1). These mortalities were assumed to be due to a blo Fish kill in numbers [2] 13 000 ton fish 7.5 mill salmon 80 mill EUR 14 companies Fig. 2. Map of Norway showing the area where the Chrysochromulina leadbeateri bloom occurred causing massive fish kills in May-June 2019 References 1. Fiskeridirektoratet 2019. https:// www.fiskeridir.no/Akvakult Mass mortality of marine invertebrates associated with the presence of yessotoxins in northern Chile Fig. 1. Map of the study area showing A) Chilean coast; B) Pabellón de Pica, Tarapacá Region C) Bahía Inglesa, Atacama Region; D) Puerto Aldea, Coquimbo Region During the austral summer of 2019, ma research is needed to determine the mechanism of action and the toxin effects on tissues and cells of the main affected species. Finally, there is a need to establish an educational plan to protect the public and avoid the consumption and commercialization of potentially toxic marine invertebrates. First Report of Heterocapsa minima (Dinophyceae) from Aotearoa/ New Zealand Small planktonic armoured dinoflagellates within the genus Heterocapsa are currently represented by 20 species with some having a world-wide distribution [1-2]. Blooms of some Heterocapsa species have been associated with fi Fig. 2. Maximum likelihood (ML) molecular phylogenetic tree of Heterocapsa minima and H. steinii strains isolated from coastal areas of New Zealand based on the LSU rDNA D1/ D2 sequences (20 sequences, 700 positions). The alignment site corresponded to the 69768 bp site of a sequence from H. steinii Yellow-green tides could become a recurrent event along the Ligurian coast (Italy) Fig. 1. A) Sestri Levante and Baia del Silenzio bay, characterized by shallow water and mixed rocky-sandy seabed containing the macrophyte, Posidonia oceanica (dark grey) and carpet-like matte (light grey) habitat. B First report of a high biomass bloom of Peridinium quadridentatum (F. Stein) Gert Hansen from the tropical Cochin estuary SW coast of India Fig. 1. Map showing the area of P. quadridentatum bloom in Cochin estuary, southwest coast of India Peridinium quadridentatum (F. Stein) Gert Hansen is a cos Table 1. Physico-chemical parameters of P. quadridentatum bloom area in Cochin Estuary Parameters Water Temperature (oC) Salinity (psu) Dissolved Oxygen (ml L-1) Nitrate (μmol L-1) Silicate (μmol L-1) Phosphate (μmol L-1) Chlorophyll a (mg m-3) 28 20 2.01 10.6 23.3 1.3 27.5 higher turbidity, lowe Are mesophotic seamounts reservoirs for potentially toxic dinoflagellates associated with Ciguatera poisoning? A case study from the SW Indian ocean (expédition La Pérouse, 2019) Fig. 1. Location map of La Pérouse seamount off La Réunion. In the western Indian Ocean, a Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CF Using Machine Learning to Observe Abundance Patterns of the Dino flagellate Noctiluca scintillans in the Western English Channel Noctiluca scintillans is a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species with a wide geographic distribution. It frequently blooms and causes negative impacts on marine ecosystems [1] References 1. Sarma VVSS et al 2019. Mar Pollut Bull 138: 428-436 2. Faust MA & RA Gulledge 2002. Contributions for the US National Herbarium 42: 1-144 3. Graham MD et al 2018. Limnol Oceanogr-Meth 16: 669-679 Author Christian Bamber, The Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB International validation and recognition of method for paralytic shellfish toxins in bivalve molluscs Food safety scientists from Cefas (UK) and Cawthron Institute (New Zealand) have led an international study over the past four years to gain international recognition for a new method to quantify pa Aotearoa/New Zealands nationally significant Cawthron Institute Culture Collection of Microalgae (CICCM) The CICCM is critical to international research projects and the 500 isolates of microalgae and cyanobacteria in the collection have been sourced from oceans, lakes and rivers in New Zealand, the The 11th EASTHAB Symposium and 4th Philippine HAB Conference The 11th EASTHAB Symposium and 4th Philippine HAB Conference were held back-to-back from December 11 13, 2019 at the Microtel Hotel, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the Philippines. The theme was Advances in Harmful Algal Bloom Research, Monito Fig. 1. Participants in the 11th EASTHAB Symposium/4th Philippine HAB Conference Fig. 2. Department of Science and Technology secretary Fortunato dela Peña with the keynote, plenary speakers and local organizing committee leads. Left to right: Dr. Ichiro Imai, representative of the Vice Mayor of Pu The ICES-IOC Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics 2020 Meeting The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) have collaborated closely for 26 years, stimulating research on HAB population dynamics and monit Fig. 2. Shared day between ICES-IOC WGHABD, ICES-IOC WGBOSV and ICES WGITMO ences using molecular methods as well as results from studies in Arctic areas. These studies presented data on HAB and invasive non-native species present in Arctic waters. A USA study focused on the distribution, community Typical benthic habitat with macroalgae and limestone rubble observed at ~ 60m depth on La Pérouse seamount, Indian Ocean (Photo courtesy of L. Ballesta). Eds-in-chief Beatriz Reguera, IEO, Vigo, Spain Eilen Bresnan, Marine Scotland, UK Regional Editors Caribbean: Ernesto Mancera jemancerap@unal.e