General Information

Event name: GB-90-003
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Nature of the harmful event:
Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Toxicity detected: Yes (Approximate range: 19,881 MU / 100 g sample)
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 (Annual event, although intensity varies. Highest recorded PSP levels since 1968.)
Individuals to contact: LAING, I.

Location & Date

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Location: Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information: Humber estuary., ENGLAND AND WALES.
HAB Area code(s): GB-01
Additional location information: NORTH EAST COAST OF ENGLAND from Humber estuary northwards (to Scottish border).
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd): Start: 1990-05-18, End: 1990-07-20
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:

Microalgae

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

Environmental Conditions

Weather: Weather very warm and settled. 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 Data from previous events suggests mainly advected population, with the possibility of in-situ growth at some sites.
Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin Toxin type Toxin details Max. concentration Assay type
Kit used: Type of kit used:
Additional information: PSP toxin detected in shellfish samples. Maximum of 19,881 mouse units per 100 g sample (Mytilus edulis). Bioassays carried out at the M.A.F.F. Fish Diseases Laborator, Weymouth, Dorset, England (contact: Dr. D.J. Alderman).
Economic losses:
Management decision: Affected areas closed for the harvest of all shellfish species (mussels, scallops, winkles, whelks, oysters, crabs, lobsters, shrimps and prawns) on May 26th. Further sampling allowed lifting of restrictions on winkles, whelks, lobsters, shirmps and prawn
Additional harmful effect information:
IOC/UNESCO ISSHA
IOC/UNESCO ICES PICES