Harmful Algal Information System: Event GB-94-006

General Information

Event name:	GB-94-006
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
Nature of the harmful event:	Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Toxicity detected:	Yes (Approximate range: 1,716 mu.)
Associated syndrome:	PSP
Unexplained toxicity:	No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme:	Yes (SOAFD Monitoring Programme.)
Event occurred before in this location:	Yes (Outbreaks of PSP have been previously recorded around Skye and the Inner Sound, but 1994 was the first year toxins were detected in the Clyde.)
Individuals to contact:	HOWARD, Godfrey , MACDONALD, Elspeth

Location & Date

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Location:	Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information:	Lonch Hourn, Clyde & Solway., West Coast. HAB Area code(s): GB-15 GB-17 GB-19
Additional location information:
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:	Early May - July.

Microalgae

Causative organism known:	Yes
Causative Species/Genus:	Alexandrium sp. (< 1,000 cells/L) Alexandrium cf. Tamarense. In Loch Hourn
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known:	µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather:	Summer weather was generally cool and wet.	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

Now known.

Additional Environmental information:

No detailed information.

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin	Toxin type	Toxin details	Max. concentration	Assay type
Mytilus edulis	Saxitoxins	STX eq	347.62	Bioassay-Mouse

Kit used:

Type of kit used:

Additional information:

Economic losses:

Management decision:

Voluntary closures of all shellfish farms in the affected areas.

Additional harmful effect information:

PSP was first detected in Loch Hourn in early May and then declined before a second peak in early June, lasting six weeks. Maximum toxicity (1,716 mu) was detected in late June. Toxicity was also detected in the Clyde (August) and Solway (June) areas, wit

Updated at 09:31 on 9 Oct 2020