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Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Environmental and Fisheries Sciences EFS - Marine Microbes and Toxins

Information

Project
SoundToxins
Title
SoundToxins: Partnership for Enhanced Monitoring and Emergency Response to Harmful Algal Blooms in Puget Sound
Description
Toxic outbreaks of species of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium have become pervasive in the Puget Sound region over the last two decades, escalating the threats to human health, but a newer algal threat from the toxigenic diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia, appears poised to repeat this toxic invasion. Increasing anthropogenic influences have been suggested to facilitate and exacerbate these harmful algal blooms (HABs), but there is preliminary evidence that advection of seed blooms from outside Puget Sound instead may be responsible for some of these toxic outbreaks. Attaining a predictive capability for these bloom events in Puget Sound and identifying steps to mitigate their effects depends on quickly gaining an understanding of the conditions that promote bloom initiation, maintenance, and transport. The existing monitoring and management program for paralytic shellfish toxins in Puget Sound is not designed for, or capable of monitoring these increasing alternate HAB outbreaks, nor can it ascertain what steps might be taken to potentially limit the spread of these alternate HABs throughout Puget Sound, as occurred with Alexandrium. To better attain these goals, the Partnership for Enhanced Monitoring and Emergency Response to Harmful Algal Blooms in Puget Sound (SoundToxins) is proposed as a regional forum for collaboration and cooperation among federal, state and local agencies, coastal tribes, marine resource-based businesses, public interest groups, and academic institutions to manage the prediction of and response to the above HAB species and Vibrio species in Puget Sound using a practical blend of emerging and proven technologies. The project objectives are as follows: 1. Identify logistically-feasible and management-relevant sentinel sampling sites for studying the early onset and establishment of toxic HABs. 2. Identify the subset of environmental conditions that promote the onset & flourishing of HABs. 3. Determine whether HABs initiate in Puget Sound or develop from seed populations advected into the Sound from the ocean or British Columbia.

Research Themes

Sustainable, safe and secure seafood for healthy populations and vibrant communities
Effective fisheries management provides economic opportunities and ensures the long-term sustainability of fisheries and the habitats on which they depend. The NWFSC seeks to improve the quality and quantity of data used in stock assessments, the methods for assessing stocks and ecosystem sustainability within the context of human modification of the environment. The NWFSC also provides state-of-the-art science and technology to support aquaculture while protecting and maintaining ecosystem health. Further, pathogens, toxins from harmful algal blooms (HABs), chemical contaminants and other stressors of marine ecosystems pose significant risks to health of both seafood resources and to humans. The NWFSC focuses on research to improve understanding of those risks, how to forecast them, and identify means to mitigate their impacts.

Research Foci

Provide scientific support to ensure safe seafood for healthier populations and characterize how human activities and climate affect risks from pathogens, chemical contaminants, and biotoxins
The availability of nutritious and safe seafood from marine ecosystems and aquaculture are essential to maintain and maximize human health. Even though fish are known to have a variety of health benefits, some seafood (wild or farmed) may contain levels of toxic compounds (e.g., chemical contaminants, pathogens, biotoxins) from a variety of human-related and natural sources that can pose health risks to humans, especially for those groups with high rates of seafood consumption. The development of novel methods and technologies to assess seafood safety and biological effects of these toxic compounds remains a priority for commercial, subsistence and recreational consumption of seafood. For example, several species (e.g., zebrafish, sea lions, shellfish) are excellent indicators of environmental stress and potential health threats to marine species and humans. These species can serve as informative animal models for investigations of the mechanisms of toxicity or disease processes. Specific research goals include (1) improve methods for monitoring for the presence of pathogens, toxins and contaminants in seafood products, (2) characterize the environmental and climate conditions that may be favorable for potential biotoxin and pathogen outbreaks, (3) develop technologies to remove chemical contaminants from fish feed and to enhance the nutritional content of aquaculture products, (4) develop a better understanding of the net economic and health benefits of seafood consumption balanced with the risk of exposure to pathogens, toxins and contaminants, and (5) develop new mechanistic animal models for the study of infectious diseases, as well as toxicological, physiological, and biochemical processes relevant to marine animal and human health.
Support collaborative community-based data collection, dissemination, and analysis for fishers, fisheries management, science, marketing, seafood safety, and education
Data are no longer the sole province of the agency. As technologies advance, fishers are collecting and analyzing fleet data in near real time. Data collected by fishers are used by the fishing community to reduce bycatch, allocate fishery impacts, and trace products through the processing and marketing system. Fisher-collected data, in combination with survey and oceanographic data, satellite remote sensing, economic data, and sociocultural data provide improved understanding of fish stocks, fishing, and the near-shore ecosystem. Collaborative efforts increase the quantity and quality of data available to the agency for scientific analysis, modeling, fishery management, and conservation. Through cooperation with the science and management agencies, the fishing community stands to gain more control and flexibility of their fishing operations, including the potential for improved economic efficiency. Increased availability of fisheries data creates opportunities for education and outreach both in the school system and to the general public. Further, well-informed local leaders conversant in the latest fishery issues will help garner local support and fisher buy-in for improved information sharing. The NWFSC will work with industry groups to improve distributed data collection, compilation, and distribution for multiple uses in fisheries, management, science, marketing, and education.

Keywords

marine toxin
toxins produced by certain species of marine phytoplankton
monitoring network
network of industry, academic, government, and private individuals

Products

None associated

Taxa

Genus Alexandrium
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Genus Dinophysis
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Genus Pseudo-nitzschia
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People

Brian Bill
Staff
Nicolaus Adams
Staff
Stephanie Moore
Staff
Vera Trainer
Principal Investigator