General Information

Event name: GB-94-001
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Nature of the harmful event:
Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Shellfish
Toxicity detected: Yes (Approximate range: 347 ug/100g)
Associated syndrome: PSP
Unexplained toxicity: No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme: No
Event occurred before in this location: Yes (Outbreaks of PSP have been previously recorded around Skye and the Inner Sound.)
Individuals to contact: MACDONALD, Elspeth , HOWARD, Godfrey

Location & Date

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Location: Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information: , West coast.
HAB Area code(s): GB-19
Additional location information: PSP toxins were detected in several lochs in this region and for the first time in samples from sites in Lewis and South Uist. The area shouth of the Ardnamurchan peninsula was largely unaffected by PSP toxins.
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information: Toxins detected between: Mussels (Mytilis edulis): Mid-April - End August; Scallops (Pecten maximus): End June - Early August

Microalgae

Causative organism known: No
Causative Species/Genus:
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known: µg/l
Additional bloom information: No water samples were analysed. A new phytoplankton monitoring programme is being set up next year.
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: No information available.

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin Toxin type Toxin details Max. concentration Assay type
Scallops Saxitoxins 1,560 munits Bioassay-Mouse
Mussels Saxitoxins 347 ug/100g Bioassay-Mouse
Kit used: Type of kit used:
Additional information:
Economic losses:
Management decision: Voluntary closure agreements were made with affected shellfish farmers and fishermen.
Additional harmful effect information: Toxins in mussels first appeared in mid-April, but did not peak until early July, where levels reached 2,483 units. Toxin levels over 2,000 units were detected in Loch Kishorn, Loch Hourn, Loch Inchard and Loch Kirkaig. Toxins were found until late August
Updated at 09:43 on 9 Oct 2020
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