12th International Conference on Harmful Algae

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF HARMFUL ALGAE12 th <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Harmful Algae, Copenhagen, Denmark, 4-8 September 20064 Centre d'Aqüicultura, IRTA, SANTCARLES DE LA RÀPITA, SpainThe dinoflagellate Alexandriumminutum, a PSP producer, formsrecurrent blooms in many estuariesand semi-enclosed marine areas.We explored the feasibility ofdesigning a fuzzy logic model basedon historical ecological informationand routinely monitoredmeteorological variables, to predictthe occurrence and intensity of A.minutum proliferations in twoselected harbours ('Olímpic'Harbour of Barcelona and ArenysHarbour) of the Catalan coast (NWMediterranean). Fuzzy logic modelsrepresent the knowledge in terms ofIF-THEN rules and allow thecombination of partial truth valueswith a certain uncertainty within theavailable data set. The model wasdeveloped for the Olímpic Harbourand assumed that bloom timing andintensity depended on thecoincidence of more or lessfavourable seasonal windows with atwo to four-week spell of favourableweather conditions including lack ofheavy precipitation and of strongwinds. The model tended toexaggerate the foreseen bloomintensity, but successfully predictedthe 6 high biomass blooms (1 in theOlímpic and 5 in Arenys) recordedin the studied harbours between2000 and 2002. This resultsuggests that, although based onlimited understanding of theprocesses affecting bloomdynamics, the developed fuzzymodel could be helpful in providinginsight for management measures.PO.03-012005 New England paralyticshellfish poisoning (non)-event:risk management success storySession: PO.03 - Public healthStacey M. Etheridge 1 , J. Deeds 1 , S.Conrad 1 , S. Hall 1 , P. DiStefano 1 , M.Ellwanger 1 , K. Chu 2 , F. Pettengill 3 , M.Hickey 4 , D. Whittaker 4 , D. Couture 51 US Food and Drug Administration,LAUREL, United States of America2 NOAA Fisheries Service, GLOUCESTER,United States of America3 Division of Marine Fisheries,GLOUCESTER, United States of America4 Massachusetts Marine Fisheries,POCASSET, United States of America5 Maine Department of Marine Resources,WEST BOOTHBAY HARBOR, UnitedStates of AmericaThe largest recorded Alexandriumfundyense bloom since 1972occurred off the New England coastfrom May to July 2005. Thisresulted in paralytic shellfishpoisoning (PSP) toxins greatlyexceeding the action level of 80micrograms saxitoxin equivalentsper 100 grams tissue. At therequest of the US Food and DrugAdministration (FDA), the USNational Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS) closed approximately15,000 square miles of federalwaters in the northwestern AtlanticOcean on 14 June. Since theclosure shellfish toxicities havebeen monitored using the receptorbinding and/or mouse bioassays.Toxicities varied with species, withmaximum levels of 2045, 4378, and4200 micrograms per 100 gramsreported in whole scallops fromfederal waters and in blue musselsfrom waters off Massachusetts andMaine, respectively. Toxicitydecreased over time withdepuration rates differing betweenspecies. Analytical data supportedreopening part of the closure on 9September (except for whole androe-on scallops); the northern area170