ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 SCICOM STEERING GROUP ON HUMAN INTERACTIONS ON ECOSYSTEMS ICES CM 2012/SSGHIE:09 REF. SCICOM Report of the ICES - IOC Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics (WGHABD) 24–27 April 2012 Oban, Scotland, UK International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44–46 DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) 33 38 67 00 Telefax (+45) 33 93 42 15 www.ices.dk [email protected] Recommended format for purposes of citation: ICES. 2012. Report of the ICES - IOC Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dy- namics (WGHABD), 24–27 April 2012, Oban, Scotland, UK. ICES CM 2012/SSGHIE:09. 57 pp. For permission to reproduce material from this publication, please apply to the Gen- eral Secretary. The document is a report of an Expert Group under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarily represent the views of the Council. © 2012 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 | i Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 1 1 Welcome and opening of the Meeting ....................................................................... 3 2 Adoption of the agenda ................................................................................................ 4 3 Terms of Reference for the 2012 meeting .................................................................. 4 4 Term of Reference A ..................................................................................................... 5 4.1 To report on new findings in the area of harmful algal bloom dynamics ................................................................................................................ 5 4.1.1 Harmful Algal Event Database updates ............................................... 5 4.1.2 Use of Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) in Scotland: monitoring tool for marine biotoxins ................................... 5 4.1.3 Categorizing the severity of PSP outbreaks in the Gulf of Maine for forecasting and management ............................................... 8 4.1.4 Prince 5 and Wolves Samplings (Bay of Fundy) ............................... 10 4.1.5 Overview of Harmful Algal Blooms in Egypt ................................... 11 4.1.6 Significant algal blooms observed in the ROPME Sea Area (2005–2012) .............................................................................................. 15 5 Term of Reference B .................................................................................................... 16 5.1 To deliver National Reports on harmful algal events and bloom dynamics for the year 2011 ................................................................................ 16 5.1.1 Canada National Report 2011 .............................................................. 16 5.1.2 Denmark National Report 2011 ........................................................... 17 5.1.3 Ireland National Report 2011 ............................................................... 18 5.1.4 The Netherlands National Report 2011 .............................................. 20 5.1.5 Poland National Report 2011 ............................................................... 21 5.1.6 Spain National Report 2011 .................................................................. 22 5.1.7 Sweden National Report 2011 .............................................................. 25 5.1.8 United Kingdom National Report 2011 .............................................. 27 5.1.9 United States of America National Report ......................................... 30 6 Term of Reference C .................................................................................................... 31 6.1 C1 Quantify the occurrence of fish killing algal events in the ICES region .................................................................................................................... 31 6.1.1 Denmark .................................................................................................. 33 6.1.2 Egypt ........................................................................................................ 33 6.1.3 Ireland ..................................................................................................... 34 6.1.4 Poland ...................................................................................................... 35 6.1.5 Spain ........................................................................................................ 35 6.1.6 Sweden .................................................................................................... 36 6.1.7 United Kingdom .................................................................................... 37 6.1.8 USA .......................................................................................................... 38 ii | ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 6.2 C2 Document gaps in understanding of the processes controlling the occurrence of fish killing algae and the factors that cause fish mortality ............................................................................................................... 39 7 Term of reference D .................................................................................................... 39 7.1 Scope and plan a workshop focused on automated in-situ devices and imaging technology (including newer molecular methods) used for observing HABs and detecting toxins .............................................. 39 8 Term of Reference E .................................................................................................... 41 8.1 To collate and discuss data on macroalgal blooms and their impacts in the ICES region ................................................................................ 41 9 Term of Reference F .................................................................................................... 41 9.1 Report on the impacts of harmful algal blooms on marine mammals and birds relevant to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive objectives ............................................................................................. 41 10 Term of Reference G ................................................................................................... 46 10.1 Discuss and evaluate how ICES can expand its science on eutrophication issues, especially in the coastal zone (e.g. suggest new EGs, WK or SGs) ......................................................................................... 46 11 Term of Reference H ................................................................................................... 46 11.1 Evaluate potential for collaboration with other EGs and other ICES initiatives in relation to the ICES Science Plan and report on how such cooperation has been achieved in practical terms (e.g. joint meetings, back-to-back meetings, communication between EG chairs, having representatives from own EG attend other EG meetings) .............................................................................................................. 46 12 Closing of the meeting ................................................................................................ 46 Annex 1: List of participants............................................................................................... 47 Annex 2: Agenda ................................................................................................................... 50 Annex 3: WGHABD draft resolution for the next meeting .......................................... 53 Annex 4: Recommendations ............................................................................................... 56 Annex 5: Group picture ....................................................................................................... 57 ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 | 1 Executive Summary The 2012 ICES-IOC Working Group on harmful algal bloom dynamics was held in Oban, Scotland, United Kingdom, on 24–27 April hosted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The meeting was successful with 20 scientists from 12 countries attending. This includes participants from the IOC Member States Egypt, Kuwait and South Korea. In addition one person participated in part of the meeting using video conference. A full schedule of terms of reference were worked through and this report is a summary of the deliberations of the group. There is an extensive overview on the impacts of HAB’s on marine mammals and birds in the report. An overview on the use of Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking - a monitoring tool for marine biotoxins is also included. A new way of categorizing Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning outbreaks in the Gulf of Maine is presented. The reader will find information on the Harmful Algal Event Database (www.iode.org/haedat) and overviews of the HAB situation in Egypt and in the ROPME area (www.ropme.org), approximately the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Sea. There are severe HAB problems in both areas and they seem to be increasing. Fish killing algae is addressed in a separate section of the report and plans for two workshops are also included. One in 2013 on HAB’s in a changing world addressing e.g. climate change impacts on HAB’s, and one in 2014 on new technology for observ- ing HAB’s in situ. National Reports The National Reports for 2011 were presented to the group on the status of HABs from all ICES countries that participated in this year’s meeting (9), reports of presen- tations are given in this document. Year 2011 included some unusual Harmful Algal Bloom Events in the ICES region and blooms in new geographic locations. During 2011, the testing of shellfish for the presence of lipophilic shellfish toxins changed from the mouse bioassay to chemical LC-MS methods during July in many European countries. Several countries have used both methods for a few years. Canada reported the first documented occurrence of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning on the West coast. Sixty persons became ill in British Columbia. The causative organ- ism is likely to be dinoflagellates from the genus Dinophysis. Also Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) was found in mussels (causative organism Alexandrium spp.) and salmon mortalities caused by Heterosigma akashiwo occurred in fish farms. On the East coast Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) was high in some areas a large part of the year. Denmark reported no DSP, ASP or PSP. An extreme spring bloom of the fish killing alga Pseudochattonella cf. farcimen delayed the release of trout to fish cages. There were a few reports of dead wild sea trout. Ireland had minor problems from Amnesic Shellfish Toxins caused by the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins in mussels caused closures of har- vesting mainly in June and Aug.-Sep. Paralytic Shellfish Toxins were limited to Cork harbour where it occurred for a short period in June. The Netherlands Toxin levels were below the regulatory limit for all marine biotox- ins monitored. Trace levels of DST were observed. Dinopysis acuminata was observed in low abundances. Also Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were found in low concentrations. 2 | ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 Poland A short episode of toxic Nodularia spumigena was recorded 29–30 June in coastal waters. Accumulations of scums in coastal areas resulted in beach closure in Gdynia. The concentration of nodularin in two classes of blue mussels (Mytilus trossu- lus) was measured. The smaller mussels accumulated higher concentration of the toxin than bigger mussels. Also fin fish was investigated for nodularin content. Gen- erally, round goby accumulated higher amounts of the toxin than flounder. In some fish muscles, the toxin content exceeded the tolerable daily intake value (TDI) for a human. Spain Between May and November 2011, Lyngbya majuscula, a benthic filamentous toxigenic cyanobacteria, formed a bloom covering hundreds of square kilometers on the eastern coast of Fuerteventura Island. This is the first record of this type of bloom in the Canarias archipelago. Andalucia suffered severe DSP outbreaks on the Atlantic sites and PSP outbreaks on the Mediterranean sites during 2011. Five persons were affected by Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) in the Canary Islands. A combination of DSP and PSP outbreaks led to very lengthy harvesting closures in Galicia. Andalucia suffered severe DSP outbreaks on the Atlantic sites and PSP outbreaks on the Medi- terranean sites during 2011. Sweden Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins were observed in high concentrations in blue mussels in autumn on the Swedish Skagerrak coast. This coincided with high abun- dances of the dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuta. The potential fish killer Pseudochattonella farcimen was abundant in March-April in the Kattegat but no harmful effects were observed. An unusual high biomass bloom of Ceratium spp. caused brown water in November in the Kattegat. In the Baltic proper the intensity of the cyanobacteria bloom was moderate and it was found off shore. In the Bothnian Sea both coastal and off shore blooms of cyanobacteria were observed. UK (Northern Ireland) A large bloom of Dinophysis spp. occurred in Belfast during July and August causing high levels of DST in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). In Eng- land and Wales PST was breaching the action levels on 14 occasions. DST above regulatory levels were recorded in 12 shellfish samples. In Scotland Alexandrium spp. was observed on several occasions. On two occasions there were closures because of PST. There were also closures because of DST. USA PSP On the U.S. west coast, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California all re- corded PSP toxicity during 2011. Eight confirmed and 13 probable PSP cases occurred in Alaska. New England experienced “normal” closures due to PSP. Also New York state had closures due to PSP. Florida experienced Pyrodinium bahamense blooms on the west coast. AST California experienced closures due to domoic acid. NSP Florida and Texas experienced Karenia brevis blooms on both the east and west coasts. At one point during the bloom, discoloured water and dead fish could be found along over 250 miles of Gulf beach. DSP For the first time, DSP toxins were detected in Washing- ton state. DSP toxins were also detected in New York state. Brown tide Long Island, NY experienced a significant brown tide bloom, which began in June and ended in July. ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 | 3 1 Welcome and opening of the Meeting The 2012 ICES-IOC Working Group on harmful algal bloom dynamics was held in Oban, United Kingdom, on 24–27 April hosted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The meeting was successful with 20 scientists from 12 countries at- tending. This includes participants from the IOC Member States Egypt, Kuwait and South Korea. In addition one person participated in part of the meeting using video conference. On behalf of the host and the venue local organisers Keith Davidson (SAMS) and the working group Chair Bengt Karlson (SMHI, Sweden) opened the meeting and welcomed the participants to the working group meeting. In the opening of the meeting it was recognised that this expert group meeting pro- vides an excellent opportunity to meet and collectively address the terms of reference that we have set ourselves and have been passed to us through ICES and IOC. Both ICES and IOC have recognised the importance of the work carried out by our work- ing group. ICES have stated on their website that the activities of this group was fun- damental to the work of the Oceanography Committee, and this has been the view of the new Steering Group on Human Interactions on Ecosystems to whom we now re- port. The work of this ICES-IOC WG is deemed high priority. The agenda was agreed and rapporteurs for the different agenda items were selected. The participants (Annex 1) then introduced themselves and gave a short review of their scientific activities. 20 Scientists representing 12 countries participated in the meeting. In addition one person participated in part of the meeting using video conference. One aspect of the work of WGHABD is to promote international collaboration regarding harmful algal bloom monitoring and research in the whole IOC-area, i.e. on a global scale. One per- son from Egypt participated in the meeting to inform about and to discuss the harm- ful algal bloom situation in Egypt. Three participants from Kuwait representing the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) par- ticipated in the meeting to learn about ICES work with Harmful Algal Blooms and to contribute their knowledge to WGHABD. Also one person from PICES participated to plan the joint IOC-ICES-PICES workshop on Harmful Algal Blooms in a Changing World (WKHABCW). The two South Korean participants presented the 15th Interna- tional Conference on Harmful Algae(ICHA) to be held 29 October to 2 November 2012 and contributed with information on HAB’s in South Korea. The list of participants is presented in Annex 1. The meeting agenda is presented in Annex 2. The meeting was very successful and with a full agenda of challenging and diverse terms of reference. An ICES SharePoint site was made available before and during the meeting. Although not without problems, this proved to be a valuable tool to speed up the work and make exchange of information more efficient. Over the course of the 4 day meeting the group made presentations addressing the terms of reference this report presents a summary of these and subsequent discussions. Along with ICES, the IOC is a joint organiser of WGHABD, and provides valuable interac- tion regarding data collection and management of HAB data through the develop- ment of the HAEDAT database. As co-ordinators of the Intergovernmental Panel on HABs, the participation of IOC in WGHABD forms an important linkage between the working group and this panel. The IOC also takes responsibility to promote the working group among IOC Member Countries outside the ICES area to attend WGHABD and some years is in a position to offer travel support. 4 | ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 WGHABD is an important forum for ICES and IOC to review and discuss HAB events and to provide advice and updates on the state of HABs in the region on an annual basis. It also facilitates interaction between scientists working in diverse areas of HAB science and monitoring and provides a useful forum for interchange of useful terms of reference on various approaches to HAB research. The present working group was established in 1994 following a study group on the Dynamics of Algal Blooms, established two years earlier; however its origins go back further into the 1980s and evolved from other study groups within ICES. 2 Adoption of the agenda The group reviewed the agenda (Annex 2) and this was adopted without any change. 3 Terms of Reference for the 2012 meeting At the 98th Statutory Meeting (2011), Gdansk, Poland, SCICOM Steering Group on Human Interactions on Ecosystems (SSGHIE) produced Resolutions 2011 Terms of References as follows : The ICES-IOC Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics (WGHABD), chaired by Bengt Karlson, Sweden, will meet in Oban, Scotland, UK, 24–27 April 2012 to: a ) To report on new findings in the area of harmful algal bloom dynamics; b ) To deliver National Reports on harmful algal events and bloom dynamics for the year 2010; c ) 1) Quantify the occurrence of fish killing algal events in the ICES region1; 2) Document gaps in understanding of the processes controlling the occur- rence of fish killing algae and the factors that cause fish mortality; d ) Scope and plan a workshop focused on automated in-situ devices and im- aging technology (including newer molecular methods) used for observing HABs and detecting toxins; e ) To collate and discuss data on macroalgal blooms and their impacts in the ICES region; f ) Report on the impacts of harmful algal blooms on marine mammals and birds relevant to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive objectives; g ) Discuss and evaluate how ICES can expand its science on eutrophication issues, especially in the coastal zone (e.g. suggest new EGs, WK or SGs); h ) Evaluate potential for collaboration with other EGs and other ICES initia- tives in relation to the ICES Science Plan and report on how such coopera- tion has been achieved in practical terms (e.g. joint meetings, back-to-back meetings, communication between EG chairs, having representatives from own EG attend other EG meetings). 1 This could be linked to the ToR to look for trends in the occurrence of HABs and associated events. We might not be able to perform statistical analyses, but maps of the ices area showing when and where fish kills occurred might be interesting. ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 | 5 4 Term of Reference A 4.1 To report on new findings in the area of harmful algal bloom dynamics 4.1.1 Harmful Algal Event Database updates Henrik Enevoldsen, IOC, reported on changes in the Harmful Algal Event Database. The database is hosted by the IOC at: http://www.iode.org/haedat Here follows a few examples of new functionality of the web interface: 1 ) Google Maps • The maps are automatically zoomed and centred depending on what they have to display; • They can be moved around by clicking and dragging on them; • They can be zoomed in by double clicking; • Clicking on one of the markers refines the search to the relevant grid; • Maps are also displayed when showing any event with location data; • All events associated with a HAE area are displayed by doing an advanced search for that area. 2 ) Downloading the whole data base Users can download the entire database from the ‘Browse’ page or their ‘Options’ page. NB: This only includes the fields that were previously downloadable. 3 ) Event data checking An interface has been added under the ‘Options’ page for checking event data. The administrator can check all records, and national editors can check records from their country. 4.1.2 Use of Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) in Scotland: moni- toring tool for marine biotoxins Jean-Pierre Lacaze, Marine Scotland Science Introduction Recent findings (Mackenzie et al., 2004) made by scientists from New Zealand showed that significant amounts of marine biotoxins were being released in the water column during blooms of toxin-producing microalgae. This observation led to the development of a passive sampling technique based on the ability of an adsorbent such as synthetic resin, activated charcoal or computationally designed polymer to 6 | ICES WGHABD REPORT 2012 adsorb the toxins dissolved in the water. This new passive sampling technique was called SPATT (Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking). The combination of SPATT with analytical detection tools (e.g. LC–MS and ELISA assays) has the potential to provide a simple and sensitive means for monitoring the presence and temporal evolution of biotoxins in inshore waters. Scientists at Marine Scotland Science (MSS) have been involved since 2005 in the de- velopment and use of SPATT. Laboratory trials using different types of adsorbents led to the adoption and subsequent utilisation in field monitoring of a synthetic resin (Sepabeads® SP-700, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) which demonstrated good adsorption capabilities towards diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins and other lipophilic toxins such as yessotoxins (YTXs), pectenotoxins (PTXs), azaspiracids (AZAs) and spirolides (SPXs). Additionally, domoic acid (DA), which is the main toxin responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), was found to bind efficiently to the same resin. The SPATT sampler in use at MSS consists of a nylon mesh bag of relatively small dimensions (15 x 5 cm) filled with ca. 12 g of SP-700 resin. The bag is two thirds closed with a non-releasable cable tie and a clip is used to seal the top which serves at the same time as an anchor point. The SPATT sampler is then simply attached to a mooring line few meters below the surface using a cable tie and is deployed on a weekly basis at the monitored location. Desorption of the toxins from the SP-700 resin is done in the laboratory using a washing step first (deionised water) followed by an elution step using either methanol (100 mL) for lipophilic toxins extraction or a com- bination of methanol:water (50:50 v/v, 100 mL) for domoic acid extraction. MSS scientists have used SPATT bags since 2005 at Loch Ewe on the west coast of Scotland, and since 2011 at Scapa in Orkney and Scalloway in Shetland as part of an environmental monitoring programme. SPATT samplers were also deployed for an EU-funded project (WATER) at a couple of other locations on the west coast of Scot- land, namely Loch Spelve and Loch Creran, during the summer period in 2009 and 2010. Finally, Basta Voe in Shetland and Loch Roag in the Western Isles are two other locations where SPATT bags have been deployed weekly since November 2011. The monitoring period is planned to last a full year with the main objective being the screening of dissolved AZA toxins. In addition to the deployment of SPATT bags, SP- 700 resin was also used in small cartridges installed in an Aqua Monitor water auto- sampler (Envirotech Instruments LLC, Chesapeake, USA). Deployed regularly at Loch Ewe and in Shetland over the past few years for relatively short monitoring pe- riods, it was demonstrated that passing 3.6L of seawater through the SPATT car- tridges was sufficient to allow the adsorption of quantifiable amounts of toxins onto the resin. Loch Ewe – SPATT & Dinophysis sp. – 2005–2012 monitoring Loch Ewe was the location in Scotland where the first SPATT samplers were de- ployed on a weekly basis from 2005 for the monitoring of lipophilic toxins. As part of an integrated environmental monitoring programme, weekly phytoplankton samples were also collected. In June 2005, a couple of months after the start of the SPATT de- ployment, there was a bloom of D. acuminata (2500 cells.L-1) which was quickly fol- lowed by an increase in DSP toxins (OA, DTXs) extracted from the SPATT samplers (max. ca. 700 ng DSP toxins.g-1 resin). A few weeks later, towards the end of July, a small bloom of unidentified Dinophysis sp. (350 cells.L-1) was immediately followed by large amounts of DSP toxins extracted from the SPATT resin (~ 1µg DSP toxins.g-1