Project

Harmful algal bloom toxins along the West coast of India for preparedness in the event of a bloom
Financial support: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India
Partners: TERI, NIO

Summary

A global increase in the frequency of algal blooms has been documented over the past two decades. Although most algal blooms are non-toxic, some more dangerous blooms include toxic species of phytoplankton that kill fish, invertebrates, and even often pose an immediate health problem to humans. Even non-toxic blooms can have detrimental affects on the local marine ecosystem and cause a permanent reduction in the area's species diversity. Human illnesses due to natural algal toxins include ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and short-term neurocognitive dysfunction from exposure to Pfiesteria piscicida. Severe cases of PSP and ASP can result in death within 24 hours of consuming the toxic shellfish from respiratory arrest and brain dysfunction. Additionally, ASP can have the devastating side effect of permanent memory loss.

The occurrence of Trichodesmium erythraeum blooms is reported from different parts of the world oceans indicating that the phenomenon is very widespread in tropical seas. In the Indian ocean, its occurrence is a common feature from February to April – May when large areas of the ocean, particularly in the Arabian sea, get covered with clumps of saw dust coloured algae. Literature documents several incidents of harmful effects of algal blooms and toxins. Discoloration in the coastal waters of Goa due to Noctiluca miliaris bloom ahs been observed. The same phenomena has been reported along the Malvan to Mangalore coast. An incidence of PSP intoxication, wherein a fourteen-year-old boy died due to respiratory paralysis, was reported in April 1983 from Mangalore. In yet another episode of PSP in three villages of Kerala (South West Coast of India) also proved fatal as seven persons died and over 500 people were hospitalized following consumption of mussel, Perna indica. All these suggest that the West coast of India is prone to algal blooms causing shellfish intoxication harmful to the public and the environment.

The project is multidisciplinary and combines social science research methods with natural science laboratory analysis. The project aims to study strains of HAB in terms of chemical and structural characterization of toxins. In addition to detection and identification of toxins, it will also help community awareness and preparedness for coastal hazards such as harmful algal blooms as well as establishment of a network of stakeholders.

The objectives of the project are:
Mapping of algal blooms using participatory methodology with coastal stakeholders
Collection of samples at regular intervals from the identified sites using standard techniques
Identification of the blooms and the processing of the samples for the chemical characterization of toxins using modern analytical tools
Identification and structural elucidation of marine toxins isolated from the samples
Assess extent of impact on the health of coastal population through participatory exercises
Understand the socio-economic impacts of HABs through interaction with fisher folk, organised fishing industry, relevant government departments etc
Provide for rapid response to the presence of toxins in the marine organisms by the standardized analytical techniques
Dissemination of the information to coastal population in order to prepare them for the hazardous blooms
Formation of a coastal network with institutes having capacity to monitor algal blooms