WESTPAC-X
12-15 May 2015, Phuket, Thailand
Harmful Algal Blooms in the Western Pacific
(IOC/WESTPAC-HAB)
report: pp. 273-283
Mitsunori Iwataki (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
HAB Related Projects in the IOC/WESTPAC
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 sciences 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)
WESTPAC-HAB
Long term objectives
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.
Project leader and steering members
Project leader
Dr. Mitsunori Iwataki (The University of Tokyo, Japan), 2012–
Project steering group including the leader (16 people from 12 countries)
Dr. Gustaaf Hallegraeff (University of Tasmania, Australia) 2015Dr. 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) 2015Dr. Dao Viet Ha (Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam)
Dr. Nguyen Van Nguyen (Research Institute of Marine Fisheries, Vietnam)
Activities carried out in 2013–2015
In the last two years, three meetings were held by this project.
Strategic planning workshop
WESTPAC Workshop on Harmful Algal Blooms Project,
Nha Trang, Vietnam, 24 April 2014
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
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 workshops
National 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 occurred
in states of WESTPAC.
- Marine Phytoplankton of the Western Pacific (2012):
was utilized for training workshops and international
collaboration.
- Red tide brochure: prepared for education of local
people especially young students.
Identified HAB issues in the WESTPAC region
Identified HAB causative species by exchanging occurrence information,
we should address under regional (international) collaboration.
Harmful red tide species
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)
Toxic species
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)
Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: Indonesia
Red tides of Cochlodinium polykrikoides have occurred in Indonesia since Oct 2012.
Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: Thailand
Benthic 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.
Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: Vietnam
Harmful 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…
Chattonella sp.
(Jul–Aug 2012)
Recent HAB issues in the WESTPAC: Malaysia and Singapore
Newly occurred fish killing bloom of Karlodinium australe in Johor Strait, Malaysia,
in February 2014, published in Harmful Algae (Lim HC et al. 2014).
Workplan for the next intersessional periods
1. Strategic meeting
a meeting on social science approach to HAB issues.
2. Establishment of regional network
3. 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 and Budget for 2015–2017
Objectives
Expected outputs
Strategic meeting
Discussion on future
activities, i.e., capacity
building and scientific
development (social
science approach)
List of training courses
Drafts of outreach
material
Places not
decided
IOC
(Regular
and
Extrabudget)
20,000
USD
Establishment of
regional network
Facilitation of
information exchange
and dissemination
Local training
workshops
Networking
2015–2017
No cost
Trained scientists and
technicians
2015–2017
20,000
USD
Information exchange
Interaction with
other HAB projects and collaboration of
Enhance effectiveness
of activities
2015–2017
No cost
Production of
outreach material
activities
Information
dissemination
Better understanding
on HAB problems
2015–2017
3,000 USD
(Univ. Tokyo)
Preparation of
textbook
Increase effectiveness
of training
Increased skill of HAB
monitoring, improved
training material
2015–2017
30,000 USD
(Univ. Tokyo, Univ.
Malaya, Natl Univ
Singapore,
Chulalongkorn
Univ.)
Activities
1
2
Capacity building
Date and
place
3
4
5
6
Other sources
30,000 USD
(Univ. Tokyo, Univ.
Malaya, Natl Univ
Singapore,
Chulalongkorn
Univ.)
Challenge
Socio-economic impacts caused by
Harmful Algal Blooms
- Compile information of economic losses by
HAB (by red tides and toxin contamination).
- Share measures of mitigation to HAB.
- Consider appropriate coastal management.
Social Science Approach
Red Tide Event No.
Location name
Data available
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
Acknowledgements for support
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