Harmful Algal Information System: Event US-93-014

General Information

Event name:	US-93-014
Country:	UNITED STATES
Nature of the harmful event:	Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Toxicity detected:	Yes (Approximate range: 298 痢 STXeq/100 g in razor clams.)
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 (The last Oregon PSP alert began 25/9/91 in mussels, peaking at 150 痢/100 g and declining to <50 痢/100 g by 30/10/91.)
Individuals to contact:	CANNON, Deborah F.

Location & Date

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Location:	Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information:	From Cape Lookout to Clatsop Beaches., Oregon. HAB Area code(s): US-22
Additional location information:	From Cape Lookout near Netarts to the Columbia River (area known as Clatsop Beaches.)
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:	Continuation of PSP even that began in August 1992. Toxin in mussels until April 1993. Razor clams contained PSP through all of 1993.

Microalgae

Causative organism known:	No
Causative Species/Genus:	Alexandrium catenella ( cells/L) Not confirmed
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known:	µg/l
Additional bloom information:	Causative species not confirmed but thought to be Alexandrium catenella.
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather:	Typical late summer and fall weather conditions. Fall rains began in early November which is later than usual.	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: 13 °C, Min: 10 °C

Salinity Range During Event:

Max: 30, Min: 25

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
Razor clams	Saxitoxins	STX eq	195 -298	LC
Mussels	Saxitoxins	STX eq	50	LC

Kit used: No

Type of kit used:

Additional information:

Toxin levels in razor clams ranged from 195-298 痢/100g in late October 1993 to 50-93 痢/100 g in late December.

Economic losses:

Two razor clam processor have almost discontinued this part of their businesses. Motels and restaurants are affected because of fewer tourists. Intensified testing of razor clams has increased collection and laboratory costs of the Oregon Shellfish Progr

Management decision:

Commercial and recreational harvest of razor clams on Clatsop Beaches ramains closed. Harvest of mussels reopened in April 1993.

Additional harmful effect information: