ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT RANH Marine iotoxin Monitoring Report Document Libr… · ALIFORNIA...
Transcript of ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT RANH Marine iotoxin Monitoring Report Document Libr… · ALIFORNIA...
CALIFORNIA DEPT.OF PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BRANCH
Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Report June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
INTRODUCTION: The aptly named Mussel Shoals sampling location, with Rincon Island in the
This report provides a summary of biotoxin activity
for the month of June, 2017. Toxin concentration
ranges are provided for the paralytic shellfish poi-
soning (PSP) toxins and for domoic acid (DA). Esti-
mates are also provided for the distribution and
relative abundance of Alexandrium, the dinoflagel-
late that produces PSP toxins, and Pseudo-
nitzschia, the diatom that produces domoic acid.
Summary information is also provided for any
quarantine or health advisory in effect during the
reporting period.
Please note the following conventions for the phy-
toplankton and shellfish biotoxin distribution
maps: (I) All estimates for phytoplankton relative
abundance are qualitative, based on sampling
effort and percent composition; (ii) All toxin data
are for mussel samples, unless otherwise noted;
A chain of the PSP toxin-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium.
(iii) All samples are assayed for PSP toxins; DA anal-
yses are performed as needed (e.g., on the basis of
detected blooms of the diatoms that produce DA);
(iv) Please refer to the appropriate figure key for
an explanation of the symbols used on the maps.
background (Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Environmental Health
Department).
Northern California Summary:
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Alexandrium was observed at numerous locations
between Del Norte and Monterey counties (Figure
1). The relative abundance of this dinoflagellate was
highest in a sample collected offshore of Pt. Pinos in
Monterey County and, to a lesser extent, in samples
from outer Tomales Bay and near the Golden Gate in
San Francisco Bay. Cell numbers were low at all oth-
er sites.
PSP toxicity was detected in shellfish from sites in
Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, and Monterey counties
(Figure 2). The highest concentration of toxin detect-
ed was in sentinel mussels from Drakes Bay (Marin
County), which contained 322 ug/100 g (June 26).
Low levels of this toxin were detected in sentinel
mussels near the mouth of Humboldt Bay during the
second and third weeks of the month. Low concen-
trations of the PSP toxins continued to be detected
throughout the month in samples of rock scallop vis-
cera from the Monterey Commercial Wharf.
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1)
Page 2 June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
Domoic Acid
Pseudo-nitzschia was observed at sites in each
northern California coastal County in June (Figure
1). The relative abundance of this diatom increased
at sites in Del Norte, Humboldt, Santa Cruz, and
Monterey counties compared to observations in
May. The highest relative abundance of this diatom
was observed in a sample collected offshore of Pt.
Pinos (Monterey County), the same sample with
significant numbers of Alexandrium as noted
above. Elevated relative abundances of Pseudo-
nitzschia were also observed in samples from Wil-
son Creek (Del Norte County) on June 26 and at In-
dian Island inside Humboldt Bay on June 27.
High concentrations of domoic acid were detected
in mussel samples from Hunter’s Rock in northern
Del Norte County (25 ppm on June 30) and from
the Commercial Wharf in Monterey
County (55 ppm on June 6). Low con-
centrations of this toxin were also de-
tected in mussels from Wilson Creek,
outer Humboldt Bay, and the Santa
Cruz Pier.
Very high concentrations of domoic
acid continued to be detected in razor
clams from Humboldt County in June
(Figure 2). Toxin concentrations ex-
ceeded the alert level in 10 of 11 clam
samples from Clam Beach, with the
highest concentration being 120 ppm. (Continued on page 4)
Figure 1. Toxic phytoplankton distribution in northern California.
Page 3 June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
Figure 2. Distribution of shellfish biotoxins in northern California.
Page 4 June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
(Continued from page 2) Figure 3. Toxic phytoplankton distribution in southern California.
Six of 11 clam samples
from Little River State
Beach exceeded the alert
level for domoic acid, with
the highest concentration
being 85 ppm.
The CDPH Food and Drug
Branch collected samples
of rock crab fished from
offshore of Shelter Cove in
southern Humboldt Coun-
ty. The crab viscera con-
tained varying concentra-
tions of domoic acid, rang-
ing from nondetectable to 73 ppm.
Non-Toxic Species
Diatoms continued to dominate the northern
California phytoplankton assemblage, with Chaetoceros and Skeletonema ubiquitous along most of
the coast.
Southern California Summary:
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning:
Alexandrium was observed at several sites between San
(Continued on page 5)
The Marine Biotoxin Monitoring and Control Program, managed by the California Department of Public
Health, is a state-wide effort involving a consortium of volunteer participants. The shellfish sampling and
analysis element of this program is intended to provide an early warning of shellfish toxicity by routinely as-
sessing coastal resources for the presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins and domoic acid.
The Phytoplankton Monitoring Program is a state-wide effort designed to detect toxin producing species of
phytoplankton in ocean water before they impact the public. The phytoplankton monitoring and observation
effort can provide an advanced warning of a potential toxic bloom, allowing us to focus sampling efforts in
the affected area before California's valuable shellfish resources or the public’s health is threatened.
For Information on Volunteering: For Recorded Biotoxin Information Call:
Email [email protected] or call 510-412-4635 (800) 553 - 4133
Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties (Figure 3). Multiple sampling locations along the San Luis Obispo
coast contained low numbers of Alexandrium and one site offshore of the Santa Barbara coast also contained
Page 5 June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
Figure 4. Distribution of shellfish biotoxins in southern California.
(Continued from page 4) pared to observations in May, but
remained abundant offshore of
Tajiguas Beach in Santa Barbara
and near Santa Rosa and Santa low numbers of this dinoflagellate.
PSP toxins were not detected in
any shellfish samples
collected in June.
Domoic Acid
Pseudo-nitzschia contin-
ued to be observed at
almost all sampling sites
between San Luis
Obispo and San Diego
counties (Figure 3). This
diatom decreased in rel-
ative abundance at
Cruz islands. The highest cell
masses were observed in a
June 28 sample collected off-
shore of Palos Verdes (Los An-
geles County).
Domoic acid was detected in
only one sample in June
(Figure 4). A low concentra-
tion of this toxin was detected
in mussels from an aquacul-
ture lease offshore of Santa
Barbara during the first week
of the month, declining below
the detection limit in subse-
quent weeks. This site had ex-
perienced alert levels of do-
moic acid throughout May.
Non-Toxic Species
A mix of diatoms and dinoflag-
ellates were observed along
the southern California coast
in June. The diatom Chaetocer-
os was observed at sites in all
coastal counties except San
Diego. Thalassiosira was com-
mon to abundant along the San
Luis Obispo coast. The dinoflagel-
late Ceratium furca became domi-
nant the latter part of the month
at sites in Santa Barbara and
Ventura counties. In addi-
tion to C. furca, the dino-
flagellate Lingulodinium pol-
yedrum was common to
abundant at sites between
Los Angeles and San Diego
counties. Of note is the ob-
servation of the harmful red
tide dinoflagellate Cochlod-
An example of the ‘stair-step’ overlapping pattern of Pseudo-nitzschia cells. (Continued on page 6) most locations, com-
Page 6 June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
(Continued from page 5) Table 1. Program participants collecting phytoplankton samples.
inium, which was common in a sam-
ple from Imperial Beach in southern
San Diego County.
QUARANTINES: The annual mussel quarantine began
as scheduled on May 1 and will con-
tinue through at least October 31.
Due to the persistent presence of
dangerous levels of domoic acid in
razor clams from beaches in Hum-
boldt and Del Norte counties, the Cal-
ifornia Department of Fish and Wild-
life’s (CDFW) closure of the razor
clam fishery remains in effect.
On June 2 CDPH issued a press re-
lease rescinding the health advisory
for rock scallops and clams, with the
exception of razor clams, in Del Norte
County and all clams and rock scal-
lops in Marin County.
On June 6 CDPH announced a Health
Advisory warning consumers not to
eat recreationally harvested bivalve
shellfish, including mussels, clams,
and rock scallops, from Los Angeles
County.
A Health Advisory issued on May 5
warned consumers not to eat recrea-
tionally harvested bivalve shellfish,
including mussels, clams, and rock
scallops, from Santa Barbara County.
The health advisory included rock
crab caught in state waters around
Santa Rosa Island and the northern
Channel Islands.
An April 28 Health Advisory warned
consumers to avoid eating recrea-
tionally harvested bivalve shellfish
AGENCY # AGENCY #
DEL NORTE COUNTY
Yurok Tribe Environmental Program 3 CDPH Voilunteer (Jim Hooper) 2
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Coast Seafood Company 4 Humboldt State University Marine Lab 2
Bureau of Land Management 1 CHPH Volunteer (Olivia Giovannetti) 3
MENDOCINO COUNTY CDPH Volunteer (Marie DeSantis) 3
SONOMA COUNTY
CDPH Marine Biotoxin Program 1 Sonoma Coast Watch 1
MARIN COUNTY CDPH Volunteers 5
CDPH Marine Biotoxin Program 4 (Brent Anderson,George Clyde)
Hog Island Oyster Company 4
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Exploratorium 4 CDPH Volunteer (Eugenia McNaughton) 2
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Friends of the Sea Otter 2 The Marine Mammal Center 4
San Mateo County Environmental Health Dept. 3 U.C. Santa Cruz 1
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
CDPH Volunteer (Jeff Palsgaard) 4 U.C. Santa Cruz 5
MONTEREY COUNTY
Monterey Abalone Company 2 The Otter Project 4
Nomad Charters 1 Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory 1
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
CDPH Volunteer (Dan Hoskins) 1 Friends of the Sea Otter 3
Grassy Bay Oyster Company 3 Monterey Bay National Estuary Program 2
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 4 Tenera Environmental 2
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY NPS 1
Santa Barbara Channel Keeper 3 U.C. Santa Barbara 4
VENTURA COUNTY
CDPH Volunteer (Fred Burgess) 4 Channel Island High School 1
National Park Service 2 Ventura County Environmental Health Dept. 1
LOS ANGELES COUNTY City of L.A. Environmental Monitoring Division 1
CDPH Volunteer (Shounak Roy, Likai Wei) 2 Los Angeles County Health Department 2
Los Angeles County Sanitation District 4 Los Angeles Water Keeper 2
ORANGE COUNTY Amigos de Bolsa Chica 5
Back Bay Science Center 3 CDPH Volunteer (Truong Nguyen) 2
SAN DIEGO COUNTY Carlsbad Aquafarms, Inc. 3
Sea Camp/HABNet 2 Scripps Institute of Oceanography 4
Tijuana River National Estuary Research 5 U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program 3
from Ventura County due to dangerous levels of domoic acid.
A Health Advisory was issued on April 13 warning consumers not to
eat recreationally harvested bivalve shellfish from Santa Barbara
(Continued on page 7)
Page 7 June 2017 Technical Report No. 17-19
(Continued from page 6) Table 2. Program participants collecting shellfish samples.
County, including the northern Channel Is-
lands. Dangerous levels of domoic acid were
detected in this region.
Consumers of Washington clams, also known
as butter clams (Saxidomus nuttalli), are cau-
tioned to eat only the white meat. Washington
clams can concentrate the PSP toxins in the
viscera and in the dark parts of the siphon and
can remain toxic for a long period of time. Per-
sons taking scallops or clams, with the excep-
tion of razor clams, are advised to remove and
discard the dark parts (i.e., the digestive or-
gans or viscera). Razor clams (Siliqua patula)
are an exception to this general guidance due
to their ability to concentrate and retain do-
moic acid in the edible white meat as well as in
the viscera.
PSP toxins can produce a tingling around the
mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a
few hours after eating toxic shellfish. These
symptoms can be followed by disturbed bal-
ance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred
speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poi-
COUNTY AGENCY #
Del Norte Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation 1
Yurok Tribe Environmental Group 1
Humboldt Coast Seafood Company 9
California Department of Fish and Wildlife 22
CDPH Volunteer (Steve Fox) 1
Humboldt County Environmental Health Department 1
Mendocino Mendocino County Environmental Health Department 1
Sonoma CDPH Marine Biotoxin Program 1
Marin Cove Mussel Company 4
Hog Island Oyster Company 4
Marin Oyster Company 4
CDPH Marine Biotoxin Program 2
San Francisco None Submitted
San Mateo San Mateo County Environmental Health Department 2
Santa Cruz U.C. Santa Cruz 3
Monterey Monterey Abalone Company 6
San Luis Obispo Grassy Bar Oyster Company 8
Morro Bay Oyster Company 6
California Polytechnic State University 1
Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Mariculture Company 4
U.C. Santa Barbara 4
Ventura Ventura County Environmental Health Department 1
Los Angeles Los Angeles County Health Department 1
Orange None Submitted
San Diego Carlsbad Aquafarm, Inc. 4
U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program 3
sonings, complete muscular paralysis and
death from asphyxiation can occur. toms should seek immediate medical care. Consumers are
Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur also advised that neither cooking or freezing eliminates do-
within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating tox-
ic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms of expo-
sure to this nerve toxin may include vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and
dizziness.
These symptoms disappear completely within
moic acid or the PSP toxins from the shellfish tissue. These
toxins may also accumulate in seafood species such as crab,
lobster, and small finfish like sardines and anchovies.
Contact the “Biotoxin Information Line” at 1-800-553-4133
for a current update on marine biotoxin activity prior to
gathering and consuming shellfish.
If you are having difficulty accessing this document, please contact CDPH at 1-800-553-4133 to request this information in an alternate format.
several days. In severe cases, the victim may
experience excessive bronchial secretions,
difficulty breathing, confusion, disorientation,
cardiovascular instability, seizures, permanent
loss of short-term memory, coma and death.
Any person experiencing any of these symp-