General Information

Event name: GB-91-001
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Nature of the harmful event:
Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Toxicity detected: Yes (Approximate range: 3,670 MU PSP.)
Associated syndrome: PSP
Unexplained toxicity: No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme: Yes
Event occurred before in this location: Yes (1991 PSP outbreak not as widespread on west coast as that of 1990. Maximum levels of toxin detected were lower than those recorded in 1990.)
Individuals to contact: HOWARD, Godfrey , MACDONALD, Elspeth

Location & Date

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Location: Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information: North of Ardnamurchan and including the Inner, West coast of Scotland.
HAB Area code(s): GB-17 GB-19
Additional location information:
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information: Mid-May until end September.

Microalgae

Causative organism known: Yes
Causative Species/Genus: Alexandrium sp. ( cells/L)
Probably
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known: µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather: Turbidity (NTU): Wind direction:
Stratified water: No Oxygen content (nL/L): Wind velocity:
Temperature (°C): Oxygen saturation %: Current Direction:
Sechhi disk (m): Salinity: Current Velocity: 0
Nutrient information:
Temperature Range During Event: Max: °C, Min: °C
Salinity Range During Event:
Bloom location in the water column:
Growth:
Growth Comments Not known.
Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin Toxin type Toxin details Max. concentration Assay type
Queen Scallops Saxitoxins 3,162 MU Bioassay-Mouse
Mussels Saxitoxins 278 ug/100g Bioassay-Mouse
Kit used: Type of kit used:
Additional information: PSP toxins detected in bivalve molluscs and crustacea. Maximum toxin level found in mussels was 3,670 MU (278 ug/100g) in Loch Kishorn on 2nd July 1991. Maximum level detected in 3,162 MU in queen scallops from Loch Toscaig in early July 1991.
Economic losses:
Management decision: Warning notices posted along coast from Mallaig to Cape Wrath and around the Isle of Skye. Mollusc fisheries closed from Kyle of Lochalsh to Torridon on mainland and in Lochs Eishort and Dunvegan, round Skye. Closure place on velvet crab fishery in Loch
Additional harmful effect information:
Updated at 09:55 on 9 Oct 2020
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