HABreports: Online Early Warning of Harmful Algal and Biotoxin Risk for the Scottish Shellfish and Finfish Aquaculture Industries

Keith Davidson,Callum Whyte,Peter I Miller,Steven Gontarek,Sharon Mcneill,Marie Porter,Andrey A Kurekin,Sarah Swan,Dmitry Aleynik,Andrew Dale,Rachel Saxon

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.631732

Keith Davidson, Callum Whyte + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.631732

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Abstract

We present an on-line early warning system that is operational in Scottish coastal waters to minimize the risk to humans and aquaculture businesses in terms of the human health and economic impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their associated biotoxins. The system includes both map and time-series based visualization tools. A “traffic light” index approach is used to highlight locations at elevated HAB/biotoxin risk. High resolution mathematical modelling of cell advection, in combination with satellite remote sensing, provides early warning of HABs that advect from offshore waters to the coast. Expert interpretation of HAB, biotoxin and environmental data in light of recent and historical trends is used to provide, on a weekly basis, a forecast of the risk from HABs and their biotoxins to allow mitigation measures to be put in place by aquaculture businesses, should a HAB event be imminent.

Highlights

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are primarily natural phenomena that are characterized by increases in the density of certain phytoplankton species that are harmful to human use of the marine environment (Smayda, 1990)
A green circle indicates that all HAB genus/species and associated biotoxins are below regulatory threshold
A red star indicates that a parameter (HAB or biotoxin) exceeds regulatory threshold at the site (Figure 2a)

Summary

Introduction

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are primarily natural phenomena that are characterized by increases in the density of certain phytoplankton species that are harmful to human use of the marine environment (Smayda, 1990) In many locations, these blooms are of particular concern to the finfish and shellfish aquaculture industries. Some HAB species cause “shellfish poisoning” that results from the human consumption of shellfish that have ingested toxic cells and bio-accumulated the toxin within their flesh (Davidson and Bresnan, 2009; Berdalet et al, 2016). This significant danger has led to an extensive monitoring effort to minimize human health risk. Harvesting restrictions are applied until toxins return below safe threshold levels and the shellfish are again fit for consumption

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