vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Fish and Shellfish Program NEWSLETTER October 2016 EPA 823-N-16-005 In This Issue Recent Advisory News 1 EPA News 2 Other News 3 Recently Awarded Research 5 Recent Publications 5 Upcoming Meetings and Conferences 7 This newsletter provides information only. This newsletter does not impose legally binding requirements on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states, tribes, other regulatory authorities, orthe regulated community. The Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, EPA has approved this newsletterfor publication. Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey and should not be interpreted as conveying official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation for use. https: / /www.ena.gov/fish-tech This edition of the Fish and Shellfish Program Newsletter generally focuses on harmful algal blooms (HABs). Recent Advisory News * Texas Issues Revised Fish Consumption Advisory for Ellison Creek Reservoir On September 29, 2016, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a revised fish consumption advisory for Ellison Creek Reservoir, also known as Lone Star Lake, due to unsafe levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). DSHS tested tissue samples from fish as part of a re-evaluation of the lake. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in channel catfish, common carp, flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, spotted gar, sunfish, and white bass continue to exceed DSHS guidelines for protection of human health. DSHS recommends people limit or avoid consumption of the following species of fish because eating contaminated fish can be a health hazard. Contaminants of Concern Species Women of ChildbearingAge and Children Under 12' Women Past ChildbearingAge and Males 12 and Older2 Channel catfish DO NOT EAT 1 meal/month Common carp DO NOT EAT DO NOT EAT Flathead catfish DO NOT EAT 1 meal/month Dioxins and Hybrid striped bass DO NOT EAT DO NOT EAT PCBs Largemouth bass 1 meal/month 2 meals/month Spotted gar DO NOT EAT 1 meal/month Sunfish species (Bluegill, Green, Redbreast) DO NOT EAT 1 meal/month White bass DO NOT EAT 2 meals/month 1A meal is four ounces of fish. 2 A meal is eight ounces of fish. DSHS removed the consumption advisory for bowfin and crappie from Ellison Creek Reservoir because testing indicated that concentrations of dioxins and PCBs have decreased to acceptable levels and no longer pose a significant health risk. Sources: https:/Avww.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2016/DSHS-Issues-Revised-Fish- Consu motion-Ad visorv-for-Ellison-Creek-Reservoir.aspx: Yvww.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood. This newsletter provides a monthly summary of news aboutfish and shellfish ------- Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter October 2016 f Indiana Alerts for Blue Green Algae Blooms and Safe Consumption of Fish Updated in September 2016, the following alerts for recreation have been issued in Indiana for blue green algae blooms. No more samples will be collected until next sampling season, which starts in May 2017. Lake Name Status as of 9/2/16) Brookville Lake (Quakertown and Mounds SRA) Advisory Cecil M. Harden Lake (Raccoon SRA) Advisory Ferdinand Lake at Ferdinand State Forest Advisory Hardy Lake Advisory Mississinewa Lake Advisory Lake Name Status as of 9/2/16) Monroe Lake (Paynetown and Farifax SRA) Advisory Potato Creek State Park Advisory Salamonie Lake Advisory Whitewater Memorial Advisory Some blue-green algal toxins can accumulate in the tissues of fish. Recent studies in Ohio have determined that the flesh of fish is safe to consume. The World Health Organization advises that if you eat fish taken from water where a blue-green algae bloom is present, eat them in moderation and avoid eating the guts, where accumulation of toxins may be greatest. Do not cut into organs when filleting, and rinse the fillets with clean water to remove any liquids from the guts or organs before freezing or cooking. During an advisory in Indiana, swimming and boating are permitted. The state recommends avoiding contact with algae and swallowing water while swimming. Additional recommendations include taking a bath or shower with warm soapy water after coming in contact with lake water, not using lake water for cooking or bathing, and not allowing pets to swim or drink water where algae are present. Advisories signs are posted with a yellow diamond on the warning sign. Source: http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/847°,.htm. EPA News EPA CyanoHABs Webpage and Monthly Newletter In order to educate and inform the public about HABs, EPA releases a monthly newsletter specifically focusing on cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). The monthly newsletter focuses primarily on freshwater HABs and provides information on beach closures, health advisories with respect to HABs, current news, recently published journal articles, as well as upcoming conferences, workshops, webinars, and useful resources. For more information visit EPA's cyanoHABs website at www.epa.gov/cvanohabs or email Dr. D Anglada at Danglada.Leslev@epa.gov. The 2016 CyanoHABs Newsletters can be accessed at https://www.epa.gov/nutrient- policv-data/cvanohabs-newsletters-2016. 2 ------- Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter October 2016 Other News Gulf of Maine Red Tide Monitoring Season Begins for NOAA and Partners On May 19, 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) posted that HAB monitoring was underway in the Gulf of Maine, with near real-time early warning of potential toxic blooms being provided by three Environmental Sample Processors (ESPs). The ESPs operate like laboratories in a can, sampling cells and toxins produced by Alexandrium fimdyense, the red tide alga. Data from the ESPs are used by monitoring programs in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts and by the region's shellfish industry. Shellfish harvest is regulated to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), a serious illness in humans who eat shellfish contaminated with the toxins produced by Alexandrium fimdyense. "ESPjake" is in Harpswell Sound, Maine, co-located with a Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME DMR) mussel monitoring program site to determine the relationship between cell concentration and mussel toxicity. "ESPdon" is deployed offshore near ME DMR shellfish sampling sites in Casco Bay, and "ESPdennis" is near the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, upstream from Ogunquit, Maine. All three ESPs are monitoring and providing early warning for Alexandrium fimdyense and Pseudo-nitzschia. "ESPjake" and "ESPdon" are also equipped with saxitoxin sensors. ESP data are sent directly to shellfish monitoring programs, and reported on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution website and Northeast PSP website. This is the third year that NOAA has supported the HAB early warning network in the Gulf of Maine. The ESP and toxin sensor technology was first tested in the Gulf of Maine in 2011, supported by EPA and NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System. Similar systems are being deployed to improve HAB early warning off the coast of Washington State and in Lake Erie. This is part of a NOAA ecological forecasting initiative that aims to deliver accurate, relevant, timely, and reliable ecological forecasts directly to coastal resource An Alexandriumce\\ image from a scanning electron microscope. (Image courtesy of NOAA) managers. For more information, contact Marc.Suddleson@noaa.gov. Source: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/habs/nccos-regional-partners-begin-gulf-maine-red-tide-season- monitoring/. Toxins from Freshwater Algae Found in San Francisco Bay Shellfish Scientists have detected high levels of a toxin produced by freshwater algae in mussels from San Francisco Bay. Although shellfish harvested from California's coastal waters are monitored for toxins produced by marine algae, they are not routinely tested for this freshwater toxin, called microcystin. The toxin, which causes liver damage, is produced by a type of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) that thrives in warm, nutrient-rich waters. It 3 ------- Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter October 2016 has been found in many lakes and rivers in California, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, which flow into the San Francisco Bay Delta, and in several Bay Area lakes. Raphael Kudela, the Lynn Professor of Ocean Health at University of California, Santa Cruz, said his lab investigated the potential for microcystin to contaminate shellfish after detecting low levels of the toxin in water samples from San Francisco Bay. The researchers tested mussels collected from five sites in the Bay. They also did experiments with both mussels and oysters in tanks to determine how quickly the shellfish take up the toxin and how long it takes to clear it from their tissues. The results are published in the journal Harmful Alaae. "We found that this freshwater toxin accumulates in shellfish, both mussels and oysters, and that in San Francisco Bay, the toxin levels in some mussels exceed the recommended guidelines for consumption by quite a bit," Kudela said. The researchers also detected low levels of the toxin in commercial oysters from Tomales Bay, although the levels were well below the guidelines for microcystin levels in fish. First author Corinne Gibble said the findings suggest tests for microcystin should be added to existing shellfish monitoring programs. "There is monitoring of shellfish for marine-derived toxins, but because this is a freshwater toxin no one has been looking for it. Now it seems microcystin is something we should be monitoring as well," Gibble said. A state quarantine on harvesting of mussels for human consumption is usually in effect from May through October to prevent poisonings from marine toxins. Kudela said his lab has been working closely with state agencies, and they are continuing to conduct tests to determine the extent of the microcystin problem and the best way to address it. "The agencies have been very responsive," he said. "There is potential for this toxin to affect humans, but most of our samples are still below the recommended limits for human consumption, so people shouldn't panic and think they can't eat shellfish." A greater concern, he said, is the potential impact on marine mammals such as sea otters, which eat large amounts of shellfish. In 2010, Kudela and scientists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that microcystin poisoning had killed several sea otters in Monterey Bav. Kudela said he suspects the toxins detected in San Francisco Bay are coming from multiple sources, including the rivers that flow into the Delta as well as local sources. The drought appears to have exacerbated the problem throughout California, he said. "The rains help by flushing things out. Warm, dry conditions favor these blooms, so we've been seeing more of them lately than we would without the drought," Kudela said. Source: http://news.ucsc.edu/2016/10/microcvstin-toxin.html. COOH NH H COOH The chemical structure of microcystin-LR (Imageby DrJohnllOO-Own work. CCBY-SA 4.0) 4 ------- Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter October 2016 Recently Awarded Research Work Begins to Assess Emerging Algal Toxin Threat in Washington State Waters In early June 2016, NOAA and Washington State partners began a four-month long effort to monitor shellfish and water every week at six locations around Puget Sound and on the Pacific coast. The team plans to measure concentrations of marine algae and their associated lipophilic (fat soluble) toxins, which can accumulate in shellfish and cause human illnesses when consumed. Lipophilic shellfish toxins comprise an extensive suite of compounds, including those associated with the human illnesses known as diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and azasparacid shellfish poisoning (AZP). Though research has documented several algal species associated with DSP in Washington waters, distribution and toxicity data is limited. While little is known about the distribution of algal species that produce AZP toxins in the U.S., they have been found in Puget Sound water and shellfish. The research team will map the distribution of toxic algae that produce DSP and AZP toxins and establish and validate a tiered HAB early warning system using capabilities of the SoundToxins and the Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom programs. Ultimately, the research will establish globally accepted protocols for quantifying a suite of lipophilic toxins to enhance state agency biotoxin monitoring programs. For more information, contact Marc.Suddleson@noaa.gov. Source: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/ecosvstem-management/assessing-emerging-algal-toxin-threat- washington-state-waters/. Recent Publications Journal Articles The list below provides a selection of research articles focusing on HABs. Fish ~ Cvanobacteria and cvanotoxins in fishponds and their effects on fish tissue Drobac, D., N. Tokodi, J. Lujic, Z. Marinovic, G. Subakov-Simic, T. Dulic, T.Vazica, S. Nybom, J. Meriluoto, G.A. Codd, and Z. Svircev. 2016. Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in fishponds and their effects on fish tissue. Harmful Algae 55:66-76. ~ Occurrence of microcvstins in water, bloom, sediment and fish from a public water supply Gurbuz, F., O.Y. Uzunmehmetoglu, 0. Diler, J.S. Metoalf, and G.A. Codd. 2016. Occurrence of microcystins in water, bloom, sediment and fish from a public water supply Science of the Total Environment 562:860-868. 5 ------- Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter October 2016 ~ Dynamics of algae growth and nutrients in experimental enclosures culturing bighead cam and common cam: Phosphorus dynamics Huang, S., M. Wu, C. Zang, S. Du, J. Domagalski, M. Gajewska, F. Gao, C. Lin, Y. Guo, B. Liu, S. Wang, Y. Luo, A. Szymkiewicz, and R. Szymkiewicz. 2016. Dynamics of algae growth and nutrients in experimental enclosures culturing bighead carp and common carp: Phosphorus dynamics. International Journal of Sediment Research 31(2):173-180. ~ Gender-specific toxicological effects of chronic exposure to pure microcvstin-LR or complex Microcystis aeruginosa extracts on adult Medaka fish Le Manach, S., N. Khenfech, H. Huet, Q. Qiao, C. Duval, A. Marie, G. Bolbach, G. Clodic, C. Djediat, C. Bernard, M. Edery, and B. Marie. 2016. Gender-specific toxicological effects of chronic exposure to pure microcystin-LR or complex Microcystis aeruginosa extracts on adult Medaka fish. Environmental Science & Technology 50(15):8324-8334. ~ Histopathological and biochemical effects of cvanobacterial cells containing microcvstin-LR on Tilapia fish Preeti, T., G. Hariharan, and G.R. Rajarajeswari. 2016. Histopathological and biochemical effects of cyanobacterial cells containing microcystin-LR on Tilapia fish. Water and Environment Journal 30(1-2):135-142. ~ Microcvstin-LR induced developmental toxicitvand apoptosis in zebrafish (Daniorerid larvae bvactivation of ER stress response Qi, M., Y. Dang, Q. Xu, L. Yu, C. Liu, Y. Yuan, and J. Wang. 2016. Microcystin-LR induced developmental toxicity and apoptosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae by activation of ER stress response. Chemosphere 157:166-173. ~ Pro- and anti-inflammatorv cytokine expression in carp blood and head kidney leukocytes exposed to cvanotoxin stress - An in vitro study Rymuszka, A., and L. Adaszek. 2012. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in carp blood and head kidney leukocytes exposed to cyanotoxin stress - An in vitro study. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 33(2)382-388. ~ Zebrafish Oatp-mediated transport of microcvstin congeners Steiner, K., L. Zimmermann, B. Hagenbuch, and D. Dietrich. 2016. Zebrafish Oatp-mediated transport of microcystin congeners. Archives of Toxicology 90(5):1129-1139. ~ Massive fish mortality and Cvlinclrosoermoosisraciborskiibfoom in AleksandrovacLake Svircev, Z., V. Obradovic, G.A. Codd, P. Marjanovic, L. Spoof, D. Drobac, N. Tokodi, A. Petkovi, T. Nenin, J. Simeunovic, T. Vazic, and J. Meriluoto. 2016. Massive fish mortality and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii bloom in Aleksandrovac Lake. Ecotoxicology 25(7): 1353-1363. ~ Cvanobacteria are controlled bv omnivorous filter-feeding fish (Nile tilapia) in a tropical eutrophic reservoir Torres, G.S., L.H.S. Silva, L.M. Rangel. J.L. Attayde, and V.L.M. Huszar. 2016. Cyanobacteria are controlled by omnivorous filter- feeding fish (Nile tilapia) in a tropical eutrophic reservoir. Hydrobiologia 765(1):115-129. ~ Silver carp exhibited an enhanced ability of biomanipulation to control cvanobacteria bloom compared to bighead carp in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu mesocosms Yi, C., L. Guo, L. Ni, and C. Luo. 2016. Silver carp exhibited an enhanced ability of biomanipulation to control cyanobacteria bloom compared to bighead carp in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu mesocosms. Ecological Engineering 89:7-13. Shellfish ~ First detection of benthic cvanobacteria in Lake Baikal producing paralytic shellfish toxins Belykh, 0.1., I.V. Tikhonova, A.V. Kuzmin, E.G. Sorokovikova, G.A. Fedorova, I.V. Khanaev, T.A. Sherbakova, and O.A. Timoshkin. 2016. First detection of benthic cyanobacteria in Lake Baikal producing paralytic shellfish toxins. Toxicon 121:36-40. ~ Characterization of paralytic shellfish toxins from Lvngbva n-p//e/dominated mats collected from two Florida springs Foss, A.J., E. Philips, M. Yilmaz, and A. Chapman. 2012. Characterization of paralytic shellfish toxins from Lyngbya wollei dominated mats collected from two Florida springs. Harmful Algae 16:98-107. 6 ------- Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter October 2016 ~ Bloom of Dinophvsisspp. dominated bv D. sacculusanA its related diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) outbreak in Alfacs Bay (Catalonia. NW Mediterranean Sea): Identification of DSP toxins in phvtoplankton. shellfish and passive samplers Garcfa-Altares, M., A. Casanova, M. Fernandez-Tejedor, J. Diogene, and P. de la Iglesia. 2016. Bloom of Dinophysis spp. dominated by D. sacculus and its related diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) outbreak in Alfacs Bay (Catalonia, NW Mediterranean Sea): Identification of DSP toxins in phytoplankton, shellfish and passive samplers. Regional Studies in Marine Science 6:19-28. ~ Evidence of freshwater algal toxins in marine shellfish: Implications for human and aquatic health Gibble, C.M., Peacock, M.B. and Kudela, R.M., 2016. Evidence of freshwater algal toxins in marine shellfish: Implications for human and aquatic health. Harmful Algae 59:59-66. ~ Two decades of Pseudo-nitzschiasxx). blooms and king scallop (Pecten maximum contamination bvdomoicacid along the French Atlanticand English Channel coasts: Seasonal dynamics, spatial heterogeneity and interannual variability Husson, B., T. Hernandez-Farinas, R. Le Gendre, M. Schapira, and A. Chapelle. 2016. Two decades of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. blooms and king scallop (Pecten maximus) contamination by domoic acid along the French Atlantic and English Channel coasts: Seasonal dynamics, spatial heterogeneity and interannual variability Harmful Algae 51:26-39. ~ Environmental roles and biological activity of domoic acid: A review Zabaglo, K., E. Chrapusta, B. Bober, A. Kaminski, M. Adamski, and J. Bialczyk. 2016. Environmental roles and biological activity of domoic acid: A review. Algal Research 13:94-101. ~ Applied simulations and integrated modelling forthe understanding of toxic and harmful algal blooms (ASIMUT1-I): Integrated HAB forecast systems for Europe's Atlantic Arc Maguire, J., C. Cusack, M. Ruiz-Villarreal, J. Silke, D. McElligott, and K. Davidson. 2016. Applied simulations and integrated modelling for the understanding of toxic and harmful algal blooms (ASIMUTH): Integrated HAB forecast systems for Europe's Atlantic Arc. Harmful Algae 53:160-166. Other Upcoming Meetings and Conferences 67th Annual Northwest Fish Culture Concepts: A Workshop for Fish Culturists December 6-8, 2016 Centralia, Washington 109th Annual Meeting of the National Shellfisheries Association March 26-30, 2017 Knoxville, Tennessee Seafood Safety: New Findings & Innovation Challenges Conference January 25-26, 2017 Brussels, Belgium Additional Information This monthly newsletter highlights current information about fish and shellfish. For more information about specific advisories within the state, territory, or tribe, contact the appropriate state agency listed on EPA's National Listing of Fish Advisories website at https://fishadvisorvonline.epa.gov/Contacts.aspx. For more information about this newsletter, contact Sharon Frey (Frev.Sharon@epa.gov. 202-566-1480). Additional information about advisories and fish and shellfish consumption can be found at https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech. 7 ------- |