An approach for evaluating the economic impacts of harmful algal blooms: The effects of blooms of toxic Dinophysis spp. on the productivity of Scottish shellfish farms

Martino, Simone; Gianella, Fatima; Davidson, Keith

doi:10.1016/j.hal.2020.101912

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

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“…The presence of toxic phytoplankton and synthesized biotoxins is a threat for shellfish aquaculture, since the consumption of shellfish that have concentrated these toxins through ingestion of harmful phytoplankton impacts negatively on human health (Smayda, 1990;Berdalet et al, 2016). The economic consequences of HABs for shellfish aquaculture have recently been shown to be significant (Mardones et al, 2020), with Martino et al (2020) estimating that the incidence of biotoxins associated with Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) causes an annual average loss of 15% in mussel production in Scottish waters, equivalent to £1.37 m.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture

et al. 2021

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Consistent patterns of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events are not evident across the scientific literature, suggesting that local or regional variability is likely to be important in modulating any overall trend. This study summarizes Scotland-wide temporal and spatial patterns in a robust 15-year high temporal frequency time series (2006–2020) of the incidence of HABs and shellfish biotoxins in blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis), collected as part of the Food Standards Scotland (FSS) regulatory monitoring program. The relationship between the countrywide annual incidence of HAB events and biotoxins with environmental variables was also explored. Temporal patterns exhibited interannual variability, with no year-on-year increase, nor any correlation between annual occurrences. Within years, there was a summer increase in bloom frequency, peaking in July for Dinophysis spp. and Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and a plateau from May to July for Alexandrium spp. Temporal-spatial patterns were analyzed with multivariate statistics on data from monitoring sites aggregated monthly into 50-km grid cells, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster K-means analysis. PCA analyses showed correlation between areas with similar temporal dynamics, identifying seasonality as one of the main elements of HAB variability with temporal-spatial patterns being explained by the first and second principal components. Similar patterns among regions in timing and magnitude of blooms were evaluated using K-means clusters. The analysis confirmed that the highest risk from HABs generally occurred during summer, but demonstrated that areas that respond in a similar manner (high or low risk) are not always geographically close. For example, the occurrence of the most prevalent HAB genus, Dinophysis spp., is similar countrywide, but there is a regional trend in risk level with “very-high” and “high” clusters located primarily on the southwest coast, the islands of the central and northern west coast and the Shetland Islands. “Early” and “late” blooms were also associated with certain areas and level of risk. Overall, high risk areas mainly face in a southwest direction, whilst low risk locations face a south or southeast direction. We found relatively few countrywide relationships between environmental variables and HABs, confirming the need for regional analysis to support HAB early warning.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture

et al. 2021

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“…When toxin amounts exceed the limits, the fishery area involved is subject to closure, which can be for long periods. Thus, the economic impact on shellfish farmers can be substantial, as Martino et al (2020) assessed for Scottish shellfish farms, where toxins produced by Dinophysis sp. resulted in average yearly negative variation in production of 15% and economic losses of £1.37 million per year.…”

Section: Loss Of Production In Mollusk Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tetrodotoxin in live bivalve mollusks from Europe: Is it to be considered an emerging concern for food safety?

Antonelli

Salerno

Bordin

et al. 2021

Comp Rev Food Sci Food Safe

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Tetrodotoxins (TTXs) are a group of potent neurotoxins named after the Tetraodontidae fish family (pufferfish). TTXs have been reported in several animal taxa, both terrestrial and marine. The ingestion of TTX‐contaminated flesh can cause serious neurotoxic symptomatology and can eventually lead to death. Traditionally, TTXs have been associated with Asian countries, in particular with pufferfish consumption. However, they have also been reported in bivalve mollusks farmed in the Pacific area and, recently, in European seas. In Europe, different countries have reported TTXs, especially those bordering the Mediterranean Sea. As a consequence, in 2017 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released an opinion with reference to TTX present in marine gastropods and bivalves, proposing a safety limit of 44 µg/kg TTXs in shellfish meat, below which no adverse effects should be observed in humans. Nevertheless, this limit has been exceeded on many occasions in European shellfish and, while for bivalves there have been no registered human intoxications, that is not the case for marine gastropods. However, TTXs have not yet been included in the list of marine biotoxins officially monitored in live bivalve mollusks within the European Union (EU). Thus, the aims of this manuscript are to discuss the increasing occurrence of TTXs in live bivalve mollusks from European sea waters, to acknowledge the still ongoing knowledge gaps that should be covered and to stimulate constructive debate on the eventuality of adopting a shared regulatory context, at least in the EU, for monitoring and managing this potential threat to food safety.

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“…Thus, blooms of these harmful algal species (HABs) can negatively impact fisheries and aquaculture (Smayda, 1990;Berdalet et al, 2016;Sanseverino et al, 2016;FAO, 2018). The risk of intoxication causes significant economic losses for the aquaculture industry due to the temporary suspension of harvesting when toxin concentrations exceed the permissible regulatory limits as laid down in regulation EU853/2004(Rodríguez-Rodríguez et al, 2011Mardones et al, 2020;Martino et al, 2020). These temporary suspensions in harvesting cannot be prevented, but Early Warning Systems (EWS), such as bulletins issued to local harvesters to warn them of upcoming HAB events, aim to forecast their occurrence and reduce their socio-economic impact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…HABs are sometimes associated with large-scale marine fish mortality events but are more frequently associated with various types of shellfish poisoning in humans (Sanseverino et al, 2016;Bresnan et al, 2021). The significant economic impact of shellfish biotoxins are reviewed by Mardones et al (2020), with Martino et al (2020) demonstrating that the harmful dinoflagellate Dinophysis and its toxins alone reduce shellfish production in Scotland by 15% per annum. Shellfish producers are not allowed to harvest and sell their product until it is deemed fit for human consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Status of Forecasting Toxic Harmful Algae for the North-East Atlantic Shellfish Aquaculture Industry

et al. 2021

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Across the European Atlantic Arc (Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Spain, and Portugal) the shellfish aquaculture industry is dominated by the production of mussels, followed by oysters and clams. A range of spatially and temporally variable harmful algal bloom species (HABs) impact the industry through their production of biotoxins that accumulate and concentrate in shellfish flesh, which negatively impact the health of consumers through consumption. Regulatory monitoring of harmful cells in the water column and toxin concentrations within shellfish flesh are currently the main means of warning of elevated toxin events in bivalves, with harvesting being suspended when toxicity is elevated above EU regulatory limits. However, while such an approach is generally successful in safeguarding human health, it does not provide the early warning that is needed to support business planning and harvesting by the aquaculture industry. To address this issue, a proliferation of web portals have been developed to make monitoring data widely accessible. These systems are now transitioning from “nowcasts” to operational Early Warning Systems (EWS) to better mitigate against HAB-generated harmful effects. To achieve this, EWS are incorporating a range of environmental data parameters and developing varied forecasting approaches. For example, EWS are increasingly utilizing satellite data and the results of oceanographic modeling to identify and predict the behavior of HABs. Modeling demonstrates that some HABs can be advected significant distances before impacting aquaculture sites. Traffic light indices are being developed to provide users with an easily interpreted assessment of HAB and biotoxin risk, and expert interpretation of these multiple data streams is being used to assess risk into the future. Proof-of-concept EWS are being developed to combine model information with in situ data, in some cases using machine learning-based approaches. This article: (1) reviews HAB and biotoxin issues relevant to shellfish aquaculture in the European Atlantic Arc (Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Spain, and Portugal; (2) evaluates the current status of HAB events and EWS in the region; and (3) evaluates the potential of further improving these EWS though multi-disciplinary approaches combining heterogeneous sources of information.

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An approach for evaluating the economic impacts of harmful algal blooms: The effects of blooms of toxic Dinophysis spp. on the productivity of Scottish shellfish farms

Cited by 35 publications

References 43 publications

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture

Tetrodotoxin in live bivalve mollusks from Europe: Is it to be considered an emerging concern for food safety?

Current Status of Forecasting Toxic Harmful Algae for the North-East Atlantic Shellfish Aquaculture Industry

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