Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 19(1) 471-487 2020 DOI: 10.22092/ijfs.2019.119690. A study on red tide risk and basic understanding of fishermen and residents in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, Iran (Persian Gulf) Mirza Esmaeili F.1; Mortazavi M.S.2*; Arjmandi R.1; Lahijanian A.1 Received: August 2017 Accepted: January 2018 Abstract Harmful algal bloom can be regarded as a persistence environmental problem in the Persian Gulf. This region has experienced many problematic human and social issues, economic damages, and environmental problems caused by red tides. However, no coherent study has been devoted to shed light on perceptions of red tide risks in the Persian Gulf. In response to the mentioned gap, the present study aimed to investigate residents and fishermen perceptions of red tide risks in Bandar Abbas. To meet the mentioned objective, a total of 247 and 145 subjects filled out structured questionnaires in two coastal parks and Bandar Abbas Fishermen, respectively. The obtained results indicated that the demographic factors along with experience and human health issues of red tides affected subjects’ risk perception. This study also revealed that fishermens and residents intensify the risk of red tides, such as seafood consumption, occurrence of red tides and their progress towards coast. Negative media coverage, limited information, and lack of any support of fishermen by government are some of the factors affecting individuals’ reaction and concerns towards red tide. Downloaded from jifro.ir at 0:22 +0330 on Monday September 27th 2021 Keywords: Halo effect, Harmful algal bloom, Hormozgan, Red tide, Risk perception 1-Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 2-Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan, Iran *Corresponding author’s Email: [email protected] 472 Mirza Esmaeili et al., A study on red tide risk and basic understanding of… Introduction Environmental health problems Large-scale fish mortality, human include coral reef damages, thousands poisoning syndromes, losses of of tons of wild fishes, marine mammals, economic and natural resources, and and other marine organisms kills, damage of tourism businesses are some decreased aquatic life, reduced water examples of dramatic consequences of quality, and discoloration of the sea many harmful algal blooms (HABs) (Bauman et al., 2010; Saeedi et al., events (Grattan et al., 2016; Roncalli et 2011; Coles et al., 2015). al., 2016). Economic problems comprise Annual occurrence of algal blooms in damages to the massive aquaculture the Persian Gulf has been reported in a industries and coastal economies, number of studies (Zhao and Ghedira, restricted fishing activities, restricted 2014). The Bandar Abbas coast located tourism and tourism-related businesses, in the north region of the Strait of suspension of desalination plant’ Hormuz and Persian Gulf occasionally operations increased monitoring and along with the Persian Gulf coasts management costs. However, the experiences fish and marine organism negative economic impacts of algal kills resulting from blooms of widely bloom require to be fully assessed (Al- diverse HABs species (Thangaraja et Shehhi et al., 2014; Zhao et al., 2015). al., 2007; Dorgham, 2013). The With respect to human health and outbreak of HABs in the waters of the social problems, population’s irritation Persian Gulf coasts has increased the of eyes and respiratory systems, frequency and geographic distribution restricted recreational activities, coastal as well as their impacts and persistence school closings, and decreased fish in this region (Nezlin et al., 2010; consumption and demand can be Saeedi et al., 2011). For example, in referred to (Al Gheilani et al., 2011; Al Downloaded from jifro.ir at 0:22 +0330 on Monday September 27th 2021 2008, the Persian Gulf red tide was the Shehhi et al., 2014). proposed name for blooms of the The coastal waters of the Persian dinoflagellate Cochlodinium Gulf have been exposed to a variety of polykrikoides, which occur at more than environmental pressures and pollutants 1200 km of coastlines of Iran along the including dust storms, very low levels Persian Gulf Coast (Matsuoka et al., of precipitation, global warming, 2010; Richlen et al., 2010) and last for pollution caused by oil, agricultural, almost 9 months to expand and affect and aquaculture operations, industrial larger areas of the Persian Gulf (Fatemi and domestic wastewater inputs, et al., 2012). The bloom is remarkable shipping traffic, and desalination for its size and intensity (Richlen et al., effluents (Sheppard et al., 1992; 2010). Persian Gulf red tide causes the Marcella and Eltahir, 2008; Gherboudj most significant economic, and Ghedira, 2014). environmental, public health, and social There are pieces of evidence problems that are the main focus of this indicating that the main factor leading study. to occurrence of the Persian Gulf red Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 19(1) 2020 473 tide over the Persian Gulf with 9 specific contexts are essential to months duration in 2008-9 is the understand how individuals receive and presence of high levels of nutrient interpret risk information. In another concentration in its water bodies study, Whitehead et al. (2003) (Fatemi et al., 2012; Hamzehei et al., described that announcement of a fish 2013). The main sources of nutrient kill increases the perceived risks of fluxes into the Persian Gulf are natural seafood dishes and decreases the sources such as dust deposition and demand for them. The magnitude of the seabed (Al Shehhi et al., 2014) and Pfiesteria-related fish kill as anthropogenic sources such as distinguished by a major and minor fish industrial wastewater, urban sewages, kill is a significant determinant of risk aquaculture and agriculture runoff (Heil perceptions. Information in the form of et al., 2001; Richlen et al., 2008). educational brochures sent to seafood Many publications addressing the consumers actually increased the occurrence of red tides in the Persian perceived risk of eating seafood dishes. Gulf accentuate settlement, Increased risk perceptions indicated that management, and control of red tide consumers revealed a significant events as harmful algae blooms appear adverse reaction to the prepared throughout nearly all coastal countries educational brochure. Hunter et al. in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. (2012) described that 55% of These events cause fish mortality and respondents were willing to pay for a economic impacts (Al Gheilani et al., reduction in the number of days per 2011). Hence, control and tracing of year (from 90, to either 45 or 0 days) HABs are of great significance. that cyanobacteria posed a risk to Some studies have focused on human health at Loch Leven. perceptions of HABs and their Furthermore, the respondents' Downloaded from jifro.ir at 0:22 +0330 on Monday September 27th 2021 environmental threats and risk. Tyler et willingness this regard was strongly al. (2009) indicated that majority of dependent on socio-demographic respondents (66%) believed that there characteristics, economic status, usage were risks associated with of the water body, and individual- cyanobacteria blooms, and 43% did not specific attitudes towards and feel comfortable about these risks at perceptions of health risks. Loch Leven. Kuhar et al. (2009) Roberts et al. (2016) found that specified that the underlying cultural and community specific foundations of the social amplification contexts impacted the perception of risk of the risk framework were applicable of domoic acid (DA) - related health to understand how individuals form problems. Native American nations perceptions of risks related to red tide worried more about ocean pollution, events. Moreover, key differences were attributed DA risks to climate changes, observed between individuals’ spatial expressed concerns about the possible locations and their corresponding impact of DA on future generations, perceptions, indicating that place- and felt to be better informed in 474 Mirza Esmaeili et al., A study on red tide risk and basic understanding of… comparison with the Community Abbas. Ministry of Hormozgan Recreational Harvester (CRH) group. Education closed primary schools to The CRH group was more likely to protect ill students (HG, 2009). These attribute the DA problem to health risks and reactions may influence anthropogenic or industrial causes. how individuals perceive HABs risks Many investigations have suggested and management strategies. that “certain characteristics” imperative The behavior and reaction of factors affecting risk perception individuals in response to the Persian (Gustafson, 1998; Slimak and Dietz, Gulf red tide is a good example of what 2006). For instance, gender and age has become known as “halo effect”. In range influenced respondents’ general, the halo effect refers to a perception of risks associated with repercussion of the public’s aversion to introduced marine species (Trenouth seafood not affected by red tides or and Campbell, 2013). from areas not impacted by blooms (Nisbett and Wilson, 1977; Coombs and Risk perception of red tides Holladay, 2006). Individuals’ behavior In general, risk perception can be may influence the economic issues considered as an individual’s during and after a bloom (Kuhar