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 20061 Universiti Malaysia Sabah, KOTAKINABALU, Malaysia2 Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing,KUALA LUMPUR, MalaysiaHarmful algal blooms in Malaysiaare mostly confined to the westcoast of Sabah. Since it was firstreported in 1976, Pyrodiniumbahamense var. compressum hasbeen the main causative organism,which has resulted in public healthproblems and diminution of shellfishcultures. In January 2005, bloomsof Cochlodinium polykrikoides werefirst observed in the Sepanggar Bayoff Kota Kinabalu, causing fish killsand economic losses to theaquaculture industry. Populationstudies of the blooms showed aperpectual pattern of occurrence in2005, with high densities (> 104cells l -1 ) recurring around areas ofaquaculture activities and replacingthe dominant HAB speciesPyrodinium bahamense var.compressum. The origin of theseblooms has been speculated to becaused by circulation currents in theSouth China Sea and/oraquaculture activities of introducedspecies in the coastal waters offKota Kinabalu. The 16S rDNA of C.polykrikoides isolated from watersaround Kota Kinabalu has beensequenced and used forcomparison with other existingsequences. A multidisciplinaryapproach to study Cochlodinium redtides, including ocean currentpatterns, water quality, and remotesensing is being undertaken, tofurther understand the factorscausing the blooms for the purposeof management and mitigation.O.20-03Massive fish kills in thePhilippines caused byCochlodinium and ProrocentrumSession: O.20 - Regional eventsPresentation time: 11:40 - 12:00RV AzanzaThe Marine Science Institute, QUEZONCITY, PhilippinesThere have been few and scatteredreports of fish kills in the Philippines.Not much attention has been givento these events until a Prorocentrumminimum bloom occurred for thefirst time in 2002, that coincided withmass mortality of cultured milkfish,thus wreaking havoc to the localfishermen’s livelihood. This fish killphenomenon, that happened in themunicipality of Bolinao, Pangasinan,north of the Philippines, has beenattributed to uncontrolledproliferation of fish cages and pens.Yearly harmful algal blooms of otherspecies have been experienced inthis area.Palawan, Southwestern Philippineshas a rich marine life, supplying60% of Manila’s fish requirements,and contributes to half of thenational fish export. With arelatively more pristine water,Palawan experienced its major redtide outbreak in 2005. ACochlodinium polykrikoides bloomspanned 500km of Palawan’scoastline and lasted for four months.Satellite images from MODIS AquaLevel 2 data revealed chlorophyll-alevels as high as >0.5 mg/m 3 fromconstructed mosaics of its monthlydistribution.This paper reports on the series ofevents that led to fish kills in tworelatively different water systems.Factors that contributed to theblooms will be discussed andcontrasted.76