Task Team on Fish Killing Microalgae and Ecosystem Effects
Terms of Reference:
- support and assist in the coordination of relevant advanced technical workshops with ICES-IOC-PICES and WESTPAC to better define global understanding of the causes of fish kill events and operational approaches to development of early warning systems, and monitoring, forecasting and mitigation strategies, with focus on fish aquaculture in coastal zones;
- prepare a state-of-knowledge white paper on research priorities and knowledge gaps to be addressed from a global viewpoint based upon the symposium recommendations (Puerto Varas, Chile 2019)
- based upon the defined global priorities considered and the themes defined for the symposium noted in ii) prepare a comprehensive global synthesis publication (e.g., UNESCO Monographs/IOC Manual and Guides series), with chapters focusing on processes and mechanisms, and including future perspectives on climate change effects and advanced technologies for monitoring and mitigation of fish-killing algal blooms and their effects;
- complete a manuscript on fish killing microalgae and causative mechanisms of fish mortalities in coastal north European waters for inclusion in a peer reviewed journal;
- coordinate with and upon request support the IOC/WESTPAC-HAB activity on causative mechanisms of fish kills, including those in relation to harmful substances in the environment, including multiple stressors and cyanobacterial toxin effects on fish health;
- promote comparative studies of HABs causing fish mortalities in coordination with GlobalHAB, e.g. by comparing bloom dynamics and forcing factors of blooms and ecosystem effects of blooms in different geographical regions;
- report to IPHAB-XVI with the objective to develop a long-term broad-scale strategy for implementation by resource managers and the aquaculture and fisheries industries in affected countries with focus on development and application of mitigation strategies;
- In 6 months develop a succinct list of challenges, objectives and actions with respect to the Task Team topic that will address the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development objectives and challenges and to present these at an IPHAB intersessional on-line consultation September 2021 with a view to formulate an IPHAB strategic framework for UN Decade initiatives;
Decides also that the Task Team will be composed of A. Cembella (Germany) (Co-Chair), K. Wakita (IOC/WESTPAC-HAB) (Co-Chair), with members P. Hess (France), L. Guzman (Chile), Po Teen Lim (Malaysia), L.-J. Naustvoll (Norway), B. Karlson (Sweden), C. McKenzie (Canada) and M. Wells (PICES). The Task Team is supplemented by international advisors and experts (G. Hallegraeff (Australia), H. Hégaret (France), J. Mardones (Chile); E. Garcia (Mexico); M. Iwataki (Japan), and may be further expanded as required to fulfil the Terms of Reference;
Notes that the Task Team will continue its work until otherwise decided by the Panel and that it will work by correspondence and/or meet on an opportunistic basis, and provide a progress report to the Chair of IPHAB prior to IPHAB XVI.
Contact:
Allan Cembella, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine, Germany, E-mail: Allan.Cembella@awi.de
Kazumi WAKITA, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Japan. E-mail: kazumiw@tokai-u.jp
