Harmful Algal Information System: Event US-03-026

General Information

Event name:	US-03-026
Country:	UNITED STATES
Nature of the harmful event:	Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Toxicity detected:	Yes (Approximate range: 3,414 痢 STXeq / 100 g.)
Associated syndrome:	PSP
Unexplained toxicity:	No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):	Blue Mussels, Geoduck Clams, Manila Clams, Pacific Oysters
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme:	Yes (WA Dept. of Health, office of Food Safety & Shellfish Programs, Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program)
Event occurred before in this location:	Yes (WA Dept. of Health, office of Food Safety & Shellfish Programs, Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program)
Individuals to contact:	COX, Frank

Location & Date

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Location:	Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information:	Strait of Juan De Fuca and Olympic Peninsula, Washington, Pacific NW. HAB Area code(s): US-24
Additional location information:	PSP Blooms: Discovery Bay closed on July 25, 2003, W. Strait of Juan de Fuca closed on August 6, 2003, Sequim Bay closed on August 28, 2003. North Hood Canal, from Oak Bay to Brown Pt. on west and Foulweather Bluff to Hood Canal Bridge on east to include Port Gamble closed on September 9, 10, 2003. ASP Bloom: North Kilisut Harbor, September 11, 2003. The highest ASP toxin level was recorded at Fort Flagler St. Park at 29ppm. The North Kilisut Harbor ASP bloom was the first ASP bloom in the main body of Puget Sound to exceed the FDA standard of 20ppm. The PSP bloom in Port Gamble set a new record of 3,414 micrograms for PSP toxin in geoduck clams in Washington State.
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:	Detection date: See Additional Location Information Final date: DiscoveryBay-February18, 2004, West Strait-October 29,2003, Sequim Bay- February 18, 2004, W. Hood Canal October 14, 2003, E. Hood Canal October 28, 2003.

Microalgae

Causative organism known:	Yes
Causative Species/Genus:	Alexandrium catenella ( cells/L)
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

Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin	Toxin type	Toxin details	Max. concentration	Assay type
Geoduck clams	Saxitoxins	STX eq	3,414	Bioassay-Mouse
Blue mussels, Manila Clams & Pacific Oysters	Saxitoxins	STX eq		Bioassay-Mouse
ASP Bloom: Blue Mussel	Domoic Acid	DA eq	29 ppm	LC

Kit used: No

Type of kit used:

Additional information:

Geoduck clams: most toxic species

Economic losses:

Recreational and commercial shellfish harvest seasons were interrupted, causing an economic loss to the communities along the Strait of Juan De Fuca and North Hood Canal.

Management decision:

DOH closed shellfish harvesting at impacted areas to protect public health.

Additional harmful effect information: