Task Team on Fish Killing Microalgae and Ecosystem Effects

Terms of Reference:

  • the Task Team will focus on:
  1. the ecology, oceanography and bloom dynamics of fish-killing microalgae as they relate to wild fish and aquaculture operations, causing enhanced mortality and morbidity events;
  2. the aetiology and specific mechanisms of fish morbidity and mortality;
  3. the management and mitigation of fish-killing algal events;
  4. a global synthesis of the status of fish-killing blooms leading to conceptual models and scenarios of expected shifts in biogeographical distribution, frequency, diversity and magnitude in response to climate change and anthropogenic stressors in coastal zones.
  • support and assist in the coordination of relevant advanced technical workshops with ICES-IOC-PICES and WESTPAC to better define global understanding of the causes of fish kill events and operational approaches to development of early warning systems, and monitoring, forecasting and mitigation strategies, with focus on fish aquaculture in coastal zones;
  • prepare a state-of-knowledge global White Paper on future research priorities and knowledge gaps to be addressed from a global viewpoint, followed by a peer-reviewed publication on climate change and anthropogenic factors affecting bloom dynamics and toxigenicity of fish-killing microalgae;
  • pending acceptance of the defined global priorities in ToR ii and iii, prepare a comprehensive global synthesis publication with chapters focusing on processes and mechanisms, and including future perspectives on climate change effects, advanced technologies for EWS, monitoring and mitigation of fish-killing algal blooms and their effects;
  • complete a manuscript on fish-killing microalgae and causative mechanisms of fish mortalities in coastal north European waters for inclusion in a Special Issue of a peer-reviewed journal;
  • provide assistance in coordination and reviews of Special Sessions on ichthyotoxins and fish-killing algal blooms for the ICHA 2023 Conference and other relevant international meetings;
  • submit periodic Task Team contributions on special fish-killing bloom and events highlights to Harmful Algae News and other scientific and public interest newsletters and networking forums;
  • coordinate with and upon request support the IOC/WESTPAC-HAB activity on causative mechanisms of fish kills, including those in relation to harmful substances in the environment, including multiple stressors and cyanobacterial toxin effects on fish health;
  • promote comparative studies of HABs causing fish mortalities in coordination with GlobalHAB, e.g., by comparing bloom dynamics and forcing factors of blooms and ecosystem effects of blooms in different geographical regions;
  • develop a long-term broad-scale strategy for implementation by resource managers and the aquaculture and fisheries industries in affected countries with focus on development and application of mitigation strategies;
  • coordinate with the IPHAB Task Team on Biotoxin Monitoring, Management and Regulations on defining ichthyotoxins for the IOC Toxins List, GlobalHAB endorsed activities on HABs and Fish Farms, and the ICES-IOC WGHABD by reporting on environmental multi-stressor and fish health issues within the relevant ToR on fish-killing algal blooms;
  • assist in the development of objectives and challenges for fish-killing algal issues with focus on implementation of early warning and forecasting systems, and mitigation strategies for the IPHAB initiative for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Decides also that the Task Team will be comprised by Allan Cembella (Germany) co-chair, Kazumi Wakita (IOC/WESTPAC-HAB) co-chair, M. Iwataki (Japan), L. Guzmán (Chile), P. Hess (France), B. Karlson (Sweden), P.T. Lim (Malaysia, GlobalHAB-SSC), C. McKenzie (Canada), L.-J. Naustvoll (Norway), M. Wells (PICES). The Task Team is supplemented by international advisors and experts A. Yñiguez (Philippines), E. García-Mendoza (Mexico), G. Hallegraeff (Australia), H. Hégaret (France), and J. Mardones (Chile), and may be further expanded as required to fulfil the Terms of Reference.

Notes that the Task Team will continue its work until otherwise decided by the Panel and that it will work by correspondence, strategic sessions at international conferences, symposia and workshops, video-networking, and provide a progress report to the Chair of IPHAB prior to IPHAB-XVII.

 

Contact: 

Allan Cembella, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine, Germany,  E-mail: Allan.Cembella@awi.de

Kazumi WAKITA, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Japan. E-mail: kazumiw@tokai-u.jp