Harmful Algal Blooms on the North American West Coast Edited by Raymond RaLonde Proceedings of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): The Encroaching Menace A conference to organize a West Coast effort for monitoring and research on harmful algal blooms, held January 1999, Anchorage, Alaska Published by University of Alaska Sea Grant College Program Report No. AK-SG-01-05 Elmer E. Rasmuson Library Cataloging in Publication Data: Harmful algal blooms on the North American West Coast : proceedings of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) : the encroaching menace / edited by Raymond RaLonde. – Fairbanks : Alaska Sea Grant College Program, 2001. 74 p. cm. – (University of Alaska Sea Grant ; AK-SG-01-05) “A conference to organize a West Coast effort for monitoring and researching harmful algal blooms.” Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Algal blooms—Pacific Ocean—Congresses. 2 Algal blooms—Alaska—Congress- es. 3. Toxic algae—Pacific Ocean—Congresses. 4. Marine algae—Pacific Ocean— Congresses. 5. I. Title. II. RaLonde, Raymond L. III. Series: Alaska Sea Grant College Program report ; AK-SG-01-05. QK568.T67 H37 2001 ISBN 1-56612-071-3 Citation for this volume is: R. RaLonde (ed.). 2001. Harmful Algal Blooms on the North American West Coast. University of Alaska Sea Grant, AK-SG-01-05, Fairbanks. CREDITS This book is published by the University of Alaska Sea Grant College Program, which is cooperatively supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA National Sea Grant Office, grant no. NA86RG-0050, projects A/151-01 and A/161-01; and by the University of Alaska Fairbanks with state funds. The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/ equal opportunity institution. Copy editing by Sue Keller, layout by Kathy Kurtenbach, and cover design by Tatiana Piatanova, of University of Alaska Sea Grant. Sea Grant is a unique partnership with public and private sectors combining re- search, education, and technology transfer for public service. This national network of universities meets changing environmental and economic needs of people in our coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes regions. ATMOSPH ND ER University of Alaska Sea Grant A IC IC A N D A M P.O. Box 755040 E I C N I O S L 205 O’Neill Bldg. T A R N A T O I Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-5040 I O T N A N Toll free (888) 789-0090 U E (907) 474-6707 • Fax (907) 474-6285 S C D R E E P M http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/ A M RT O MENT OF C CONTENTS Introduction to the Proceedings Raymond RaLonde ............................................................................................. 1 Alexandrium and Pseudo-nitzschia: Two of the Genera Responsible for Toxic Algal Blooms on the U.S. West Coast Rita A. Horner..................................................................................................... 5 FDA Initiatives in HAB and Marine Biotoxins Sherwood Hall .................................................................................................. 11 The Alaska Science and Technology Foundation and HABs Robert E. Chaney .............................................................................................. 17 West Coast Harmful Algal Blooms: The Moving Target John Wekell .......................................................................................................19 Marine Biotoxin Monitoring in California, 1927-1999 Greg Langlois .................................................................................................... 31 The Marine Toxin Problem in Washington State Frank Cox ..........................................................................................................35 Marine Toxin Monitoring Program: British Columbia Klaus Schallié ................................................................................................... 39 Harmful Algal Blooms: The Economic Consequences for Alaska Raymond RaLonde ........................................................................................... 43 PSP Toxin Concentrations in Alaska Mike Ostasz .......................................................................................................51 Alaska Field Trials for MIST‰ Diagnostic Kits for Detecting Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Joanne Jellett .................................................................................................... 53 Index ........................................................................................................................ 67 iii Harmful Algal Blooms on the North American West Coast 1 University of Alaska Sea Grant • AK-SG-01-05, 2001 Introduction to the Proceedings Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): The Encroaching Menace A 1999 conference to organize a West Coast effort for monitoring and research on harmful algal blooms Raymond RaLonde University of Alaska Marine Advisory Program, Anchorage, Alaska BACKGROUND Recreational/Subsistence Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a worldwide prob- 1. Determine which state agency should have lead lem and increasing in frequency and intensity, caus- responsibility for monitoring noncommercial ing severe economic hardship, episodes of illness, harvests of shellfish to ensure public health is and death. In Alaska, the most damaging HABs are protected. Alexandrium dinoflagellate blooms which cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). A persistent 2. Form an interagency group to develop an effec- problem for Alaska, PSP fatalities date back to 1799 tive public education program for safe noncom- when the crew of Alexander Baranof, of the Rus- mercial use of shellfish in Alaska. sian American Trading Company, ate tainted blue 3. Develop and implement immediately a pilot PSP mussels at the now notorious Poison Cove in south- monitoring for noncommercial shellfish beaches. east Alaska. Since 1990, one fatality, a number of illnesses, and economic losses to shellfish fisheries have occurred, caused by PSP problems. Commercial bivalve shellfish (oysters, clams) 1. Examine PSP test results, seasonal data, and PSP directly affects three sectors of Alaska’s ma- species variability to determine appropriate rine enterprises—the commercial fishery, aquacul- sample size for oysters, clams, and mussels. ture, and recreational/subsistence harvest. The geoduck clam dive fishery and the crab fisheries 2. Study the rates of toxification and detoxification feel the effects when PSP is in the viscera, and/or for each commercial bivalve species. the cumbersome nature of the testing process im- 3. Expand Alaska’s current phytoplankton moni- pedes live shipment and reduces the value of the toring program to include more active shellfish harvest. Shellfish aquaculture operations, as pro- farmers and clam producers and compare the duction diversifies and expands, must comply by data with results of PSP tests. testing an increasing number of product samples, and must certify it safe for human consumption. Recreational and subsistence harvesters do not have Commercial production of whole-cooked or a testing program that certifies the safety of per- live crab sonally harvested shellfish. 1. Raise the action level from 70 to 80 mg per 100 grams. 1995 HABS CONFERENCE 2. Conduct preseason PSP testing of critical crab To address these issues, a conference and workshop stocks. was held May 8-9, 1995. A primary goal of the con- ference was to assemble PSP experts from across 3. Change crab PSP monitoring districts to reflect the nation to discuss means of dealing with the Alas- harvesting and oceanographic patterns. ka PSP problem. The conference was titled “Living with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning: A conference to Develop PSP Research and Management Strategies General issues for Safe Utilization of Shellfish in Alaska.” Partici- 1. Form an intergovernmental/industry working pants discussed Alaska’s PSP problem and devel- group to develop a comprehensive state program oped the following set of recommendations. for marine biotoxins. 2 RaLonde: Introduction to the Proceedings 2. Appoint a committee to follow up on conference A toxification/detoxification study for Dungeness action plans. crab was proposed for the summer of 1997, but tox- ic shellfish were unavailable for feeding the crab. Subsequently, the study has been postponed in fa- ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE THE vor of other priority research. 1995 HABS CONFERENCE A detoxification study funded by the Alaska Science Since 1995, several of the recommendations re- and Technology Foundation (ASTF) was conducted ceived attention, and other issues were added. The to search for a solution to the visceral PSP problem actions taken on the recommendations are as follows. in geoduck clams. Specifically the study tested the prospect that geoduck clams could be detoxified Recreation/Subsistence when held at a location known to be free of PSP. The result of the experiment was not encouraging. By February 1999 no state agency had been as- Although visceral PSP levels dropped 22.5% to signed the responsibility of monitoring noncommer- 55.7% over a four-week holding period, more than cial harvests of shellfish. Two letters were sent to 50% of the clams still retained PSP levels above Governor Tony Knowles, neither receiving a reply. the regulatory limit. Also, the mortality from hold- ing clams was unacceptably high at 25.5% (R. Paint- To address better public education about PSP, the Uni- er, 1998. Purging geoducks of PSP toxins. Final versity of Alaska Marine Advisory Program has pub- report to the Alaska Science and Technology Foun- lished an Alaska Marine Resources newsletter titled dation, Grant 97-1-008). “Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning: The Alaska