Domoic Acid in Alaska

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Alaska has a historic problem with harmful algal blooms (HABs) that affect the safety of personally harvested bivalve shellfish and the marine ecosystem.  The best documented HAB is the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).  With over 175 outbreaks documented since 1972, PSP regularly causes illness and death.  In addition to PSP, other marine toxins are encroaching on Alaska.  One emerging toxin found in low levels in Alaska is domoic acid (DA) produced by several diatom species in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia.  Infrequently tested shellfish has not revealed a distribution pattern of the toxic algae or the toxin concentrations in Alaska shellfish.  We developed a shellfish testing program for DA for multiple geographically disbursed sites, from southeast Alaska and along the Alaska coastline to Unalaska. Using trained citizen monitors, weekly sampling of mussels from ten sites occurred from July 1 through September 30, 2009.  The samples were shipped to the Mercury Science Inc. for testing using a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay developed by NOAA . Samples were also sent to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for analyzes. Communities not included in the regular sampling program submitted samples voluntarily for testing. Outreach and education on HABs, and particularly DA was a major component of this project. Testing results were distributed to interested citizens, government agencies, academic institutions, environmental organizations, and posted on the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) and National Status and Trends websites. North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) and aforementioned groups and individuals received summary reports of findings. The results indicate there was little to no high DA concentrations in Alaska waters in 2009. We made recommendations for continuing a DA monitoring program in Alaska to protect human health, the fish and shellfish industries and build predictive models.  

Publication

RaLonde, R. and B.A. Wright. 2011. Using Blue Mussels as an Indicator Species for Testing Domoic Acid Toxicity in Subsistence Bivalve Harvest. NPRB Project 644 Final Report.