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 structure, and dynamics of Alexandrium catenella and Pseudo-nitzschia in the Northern Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Two extensive Alexandrium catenella cyst seedbeds were documented in the region during cruises in 2018 and 2019. This Alaskan Arctic cyst seedbed is approximately five times larger than the equivalent feature in the Gulf of Maine. Bottom temperatures recorded during the cruises were in the range to support relatively rapid germination of cysts. High concentrations of A. catenella vegetative cells were also detected during cruises in these regions. The data suggests that blooms in the region may originate locally and are likely self-seeding and recurrent. Established populations transported from the south through the Bering Strait may be a second source of blooms north of the Strait. Multiple species of Pseudo-nitzschia were also detected from Bering Strait to Chukchi Sea including Pseudo-nitzschia australis/seriata, P. pungens, P. delicatissima, and P. obtusa. A review of Canadian data revealed the widespread presence of potential toxin producing species throughout Canadian Arctic waters; HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 64 / 2020 Beaufort Sea, Baffin Bay, North West Passages as well as Hudson Bay and the Labrador Sea. Records include species from the genus Pseudo-nitzschia (P. pseudodelicatissima, P. seriata, P. calliantha, P. granii, P. delicatissima, P. obtusa), Alexandrium (A. catenella, A. ostenfeldii), Dinophysis (D. norvegica, D. acuminata, D. acuta), Phalachroma rotundatum and Prorocentrum lima. Reports from cruises to the west coast of Iceland and Greenland recorded Phaeocystis and Pseudo-nitzschia species. Measurement of algal toxins from the water was also a useful tool to identify the presence of HAB species. Presentations by all three WGs highlighted similar issues with the use of molecular methods. These included the standardisation of methods between laboratories and over time to allow data to be compared, primer bias and the requirement for bioinformatics expertise and computing and data power. This was the final year in the three year ICES reporting cycle and the meeting opened with a discussion about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 2030) https://www.oceandecade.org/. The UN decade is an opportunity to make HAB science more relevant to society. Discussions within WGHABD when setting terms of reference (ToRs) for the coming three year reporting cycle were framed within the context of how they would contribute to progress within the UN decade. For the next three year cycle current WGHABD ToRs focused on national reports, new findings and HAEDAT will continue. New ToRs will address increased visibility of the WG, advances in automated imaging and molecular methods for detection of HAB species, emerging toxins, sub lethal impacts of HABs on farmed fish, and the impacts of climate change on HABs. Dave Clarke from the Marine Institute, Ireland was elected as the new chair of ICES-IOC WGHABD. The next meeting is planned for the 20 -23 April 2021 in Lowestoft, England. WGHABD welcomes new members at any time and is open to experts from all IOC Member States. HABs are a global problem and experts from outside the ICES region, interested in joining the WG (at their own expense) are particularly welcome. Now is your chance to get involved. For further information please contact WGHABD or the IOC. Authors Eileen Bresnan, Marine Scotland Science, Aberdeen, UK Henrik Enevoldsen, IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Email corresponding author: Eileen.Bresnan@gov.scot 21 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