Harmful Algal Blooms in the Western Pacific(IOC/WESTPAC-HAB)

report: pp. 273-283

Mitsunori Iwataki (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

WESTPAC-X12-15 May 2015, Phuket, Thailand

Fisheries damages and shellfish/fish poisoning cases have been caused by HAB species in the region, although continuous efforts to prevent the HAB issues more than 20 years in the WESTPAC. WESTPAC-HAB project is the international network of researchers on Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) in the WESTPAC, to address various issues caused by different HAB species.

HAB Related Projects in the IOC/WESTPAC

- Identification, taxonomy and distribution (biology) of HAB species (WESTPAC-HAB), M. Iwataki (Japan)

- Ecophysiology (biology) and red tide forming mechanisms in relation to environmental change(WESTPAC-HAB)

- Toxicology (chemistry) of marine organisms including HAB species(WESTPAC-TMO), Dr. Dao Viet Ha (Vietnam)

- Socio-economic impacts (social science) caused by HAB species, (WESTPAC-HAB), Dr. K. Wakita (Japan)

- Other activities e.g., capacity developments (education) on HAB issues(WESTPAC-HAB) Po Teen Lim (Malaysia), Sandric Leong (Singapore)

HAB related sciences in the IOC/WESTPAC

1. Understanding of the biological and chemical nature, population dynamics and environmental effects of harmful algae and their bioactive products.

2. Prevention of ill consequences caused by HABs, through providing scientific knowledge useful for establishment of reliable cost- and load-effective management systems including monitoring and research.

WESTPAC-HAB

Long term objectives

Dr. Gustaaf Hallegraeff (University of Tasmania, Australia) 2015-Dr. Songhui Lu (Jinan University, China)Ms. Hikmah Thoha (Indonesian Institute of Science, Indonesia)Dr. Yasuwo Fukuyo, Mitsunori Iwataki (University of Tokyo, Japan)Dr. Kazumi Wakita (Tokai University, Japan)Dr. Chang Kyu Lee (NFRDI, Korea)Dr. Po-Teen Lim (University of Malaya, Malaysia)Dr. Rhodora Azanza (University of the Philippines, Philippines)Ms. Elsa Fugen Furio (NFRDI, Philippines)Dr. Sandric Chee Yew Leong (National University of Singapore, Singapore)Dr. Tatiana Morozova (Russian Academy of Science, Russia)Dr. Thaithaworn Lirdwitayaprasit (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)Dr. Don Anderson (USA) 2015-Dr. Dao Viet Ha (Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam)Dr. Nguyen Van Nguyen (Research Institute of Marine Fisheries, Vietnam)

Project leader

Project steering group including the leader (16 people from 12 countries)Dr. Mitsunori Iwataki (The University of Tokyo, Japan), 2012–

Project leader and steering members

WESTPAC Workshop on Harmful Algal Blooms Project, Nha Trang, Vietnam, 24 April 2014

Strategic planning workshop

Capacity building meeting

National Training Workshop in Malaysia: University of Malaya, Bachok, Malaysia, 12-15 August 2014

National Training Workshop in Singapore:National University of Singapore, Singapore, 18-22 August 2014

In the last two years, three meetings were held by this project.

Activities carried out in 2013–2015

Strategic planning workshop

WESTPAC Workshop on Harmful Algal Blooms Project, Nha Trang, Vietnam, 24 April 2014 44 participants from Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, USA and Vietnam, including 10 steering members of the project attended the workshop.

Training workshopsNational Training Workshop in Malaysia: HAB and Biotoxins Workshop on “Systematic and Advanced Methodologies in Harmful Algae Monitoring”, University of Malaya, Bachok, Malaysia, 12-15 August 2014

National Training Workshop in Singapore: Biodiversity and Taxonomy Workshop on “Harmful Algal Bloom Species Taxonomy”, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 18-22 August 2014

Publications

- Scientific papers: related to HAB issued occurredin states of WESTPAC.

- Marine Phytoplankton of the Western Pacific (2012): was utilized for training workshops and internationalcollaboration.

- Red tide brochure: prepared for education of local people especially young students.

Identified HAB causative species by exchanging occurrence information,we should address under regional (international) collaboration.

Green tide (China), Brown tide (China), Cochlodinium (Indonesia, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines), Ceratium (Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam), Heterosigma (Russia), Noctiluca (Indonesia, Thailand), Chattonella (Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand), Karlodinium (Malaysia, Singapore)

Pyrodinium (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines), PSP species e.g., Alexandrium and G. catenatum (Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand),Benthic species e.g., Gambierdiscus, Prorocentrum, Ostreopsis (Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam)

Identified HAB issues in the WESTPAC region

Harmful red tide species

Toxic species

Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: IndonesiaRed tides of Cochlodinium polykrikoides have occurred in Indonesia since Oct 2012.

Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: ThailandBenthic armored dinoflagellate Ostreopsis is responsible for fish poisoning.O. siamensis is the type species of the genus described in 1911.Collaborative study for morphological and phylogenetic characterization of O. siamensis,was carried out in July 2014.

Chattonella sp.(Jul–Aug 2012)

Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: VietnamHarmful algal blooms in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (2011–2012)

Phaeocystis sp. (Nov 2011)

Noctiluca scintillans(Mar–Apr 2012)

No recurrent of these new blooms in 2013…

Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: Malaysia and SingaporeNewly occurred fish killing bloom of Karlodinium australe in Johor Strait, Malaysia,in February 2014, published in Harmful Algae (Lim HC et al. 2014).

1. Strategic meeting a meeting on social science approach to HAB issues.

2. Establishment of regional network3. Capacity building

Local training workshops are planned to develop more capacity.- Malaysia (Dr. Lim Po Teen), 2015 and 2016- Singapore (Dr. Sandric Leong), 2015 and 2016- Thailand (Dr. Thaithaworn Lirdwitayaprasit), 2015

4. Interaction with other HAB related projects with other WESTPAC projects such as TMO, RS and Biodiversity, with projects of other organization (PICES, UNEP/NOWPAP), with international HAB projects e.g., EASTHAB and ACORE-COMSEA.

5. Production of outreach material Updating information of Atlas and Red tide brochure, Teaching material for training course

6. Other activities - International collaborative research on local HAB related issues.- HAB study in the pilot sites collaborating with other WESTPAC projects.

Workplan for the next intersessional periods

Activities Objectives Expected outputs Date and place

IOC(Regular

and Extra-

budget)

Other sources

1

Strategic meeting Discussion on future activities, i.e., capacity building and scientific development (socialscience approach)

List of training coursesDrafts of outreach material

Places not decided

20,000 USD

2Establishment of regional network

Facilitation of information exchange and dissemination

Networking 2015–2017 No cost

3

Capacity building Local training workshops

Trained scientists and technicians

2015–2017 20,000 USD

30,000 USD(Univ. Tokyo, Univ. Malaya, Natl Univ

Singapore,Chulalongkorn

Univ.)

4Interaction with other HAB projects

Information exchange and collaboration of activities

Enhance effectiveness of activities

2015–2017 No cost

5Production of outreach material

Information dissemination

Better understanding on HAB problems

2015–2017 3,000 USD(Univ. Tokyo)

6

Preparation of textbook

Increase effectiveness of training

Increased skill of HAB monitoring, improvedtraining material

2015–2017 30,000 USD(Univ. Tokyo, Univ. Malaya, Natl Univ

Singapore,Chulalongkorn

Univ.)

Workplan and Budget for 2015–2017

Challenge

- Compile information of economic losses by HAB (by red tides and toxin contamination).

- Share measures of mitigation to HAB.

- Consider appropriate coastal management.

Socio-economic impacts caused by Harmful Algal Blooms

Social Science Approach

Red Tide Event No.

Location name

Date of detection/disappearance

Size of discolored area

Color of discoloration

Red tide species

Direct impacts

Number of fish/shellfish killed

economic loss by fish/shellfish killed

Indirect impacts

Mitigation cost (ex. Clay spray, etc.)

Compensation cost

Decrease of seafood sales

Decrease of tourists

Effect on marine/coastal recreation

⇒Publication review⇒ Interviews

Data available

We are grateful to financial support for WESTPAC-HAB project,

- Japan Funds in Trust (JFiT) to UNESCO

- the University of Tokyo, University of Malaya, National University of Singapore, University of Philippines

Acknowledgements for support