Harmful Algal Blooms(HABs)

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a serious marine environmental problem where rapid growth of toxin-producing phytoplankton leads to massive death of cultured fish and natural marine resources, resulting in devastating damage to fishery. In CEARAC’s HAB activities, following two phenomena are included:

・Red Tide: Water discoloration by increased phytoplankton

・Shellfish Toxin: Shellfish poisoning by feeding toxin-producing phytoplankton

Same as land-based plants, phytoplankton needs sunlight and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). When rainwater increases in the rainy season or by typhoons, large amounts of nutrients run into the sea water through rivers. Then when other conditions such as sunlight and water temperature are met, phytoplankton grows rapidly. As long as the phytoplankton is feed for fish, no problem happens. However, if toxic plankton grows, it may cause extensive damage.

Sea Surface Temperature is increasing by global warming, and because of this, marine organisms which are native in the southern waters are often seen in the NOWPAP region at present. Actually, in some cases, damages are caused by different species from the past ones. Therefore, it is important for CEARAC to collect and share information of HABs that occurred in respective NOWPAP member states for them to design effective countermeasures.

CEARAC Activity

CEARAC developed “HAB Integrated Website” as a useful HAB-related information resource. The website has information on HAB occurrences in the NOWPAP member states and includes “Cochlodinium Homepage” to introduce Cochlodinium polykrokoides, one of the major HAB species in the NOWPAP region, “HAB Reference Database.” All the CEARAC publications on HABs such as “Booklet of Countermeasures against Harmful Algal Blooms in the NOWPAP region” are also available.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms, such as red tides and shellfish toxins from specific phytoplankton overgrowth) occurred frequently, causing significant damage to fisheries. Although there has been a trend of improvement in recent years, the occurrence of HABs continues, occasionally causing severe damage to fisheries. This website was created to share information about the occurrence and damage of HABs.

Browse the website

It features various information related to HABs, including publications, databases, and species of HABs that are pbroblematic in the NOWPAP region.

Cochlodinium polykrikoides is an extremely small plankton that is invisible without the use of a microscope and causes significant problems in the seas of the NOWPAP region by forming red tides. China, Japan, Korea, and Russia are jointly conducting research and sharing information on this website to address the issue of Cochlodinium.

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Detailed information about the biology and ecology of Cochlodinium, the red tides it causes, and measures to deal with them is provided.

This Database has been established to provide useful information and reference materials (papers, reports, etc.) for researchers, government officials or public interested in HABs in the NOWPAP region.The Database is expected to enhance better understanding and provide valuable information to the solution of the various HABs problem in the NOWPAP region.

Browse the website

The database can be searched through several methods. Please refer to the instructions on the search method provided on the site.