Harmful Algal Blooms Public Health Responsibilities and Needs Prepared by Carol Dorsey Alabama Department of Public Health Mobile Division Laboratory
Public Health Responsibilities Adequate communication of risk and consequences without provoking undue alarm. Availability of good data that is easily accessible Data appropriate for the audience
Public Health Responsibilities Adequate coverage of the target recreational waters Timely updates of HAB conditions Trained analysts when the detection methodology is microscopic identification and enumeration of HAB organisms that may cause harm to persons on the beach or in the water
Public Health Considerations and Needs Field deployable screening tools for target organisms and toxins Epidemiology of Human Exposure to HABs Long term exposure Short term or acute exposure Most states do not consider HAB illnesses a reportable disease at the state or national level. The exception is Florida which recognized NSP, Ciguatera, and PSP
Public Health Considerations Epidemiology Need to elevate the profile of HAB illnesses in state health dept. Maybe not to the point of reportable diseases Collect data about possible HAB illness uniformly All data must comply with state regulations for collecting human illness information and HIPAA
Public Health Data Needs Prediction, Forecasting, and Monitoring for HAB organisms or or their blooms and toxins Uniform collection of environmental data in recreational waters that corresponds with HAB events Epidemiological data capture instrument Timely posting of appropriate HAB data and resulting advisories Ready access to information for recreational water and beach users
Monitoring, Management, and Mitigation for HAB s for Shellfish Harvesting Areas (Karenia brevis as an example) Prepared by: David Heil Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Karenia brevis Marine Biotoxin 1. NEED: Example Must be a valid JUSTIFICATION for monitoring, management, and mitigation.
Justification for Program and Diversity Karenia brevis (Brevetoxin): of Stakeholders Is a toxic dinoflagellate associated with Florida saltwater discoloration, fish kills, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, and an airborne respiratory irritant in sea spray Respiratory irritation can occur when concentrations increase above normal background levels of 1,000 cells per liter Concentrations as low as 5,000 cells per liter cause shellfish to become toxic when exposed long enough Concentrations at 250,000 cells per liter can cause fish kills (50 times greater than a level which causes toxic shellfish) Concentrations >1,000,000 cells per liter can cause seawater discoloration
Outline I. State molluscan shellfish control program II. Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference III. National Shellfish Sanitation Program monitoring and management requirements for K.b. IV. Alternate K.b. management: Mitigation V. K.b. monitoring, management and mitigation outcomes
I. State Molluscan Shellfish Control 2. NEED: Program The GOALS and OUTCOMES for any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must be clearly defined.
Program Goals and Outcomes To provide maximum utilization of molluscan shellfish resources (oysters, clams, and mussels). To reduce the risk of shellfish-borne illness. To ensure that shellfish harvested are safe and wholesome. To safeguard the public and support the State s economy.
II. Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) 3. NEED: The LEGAL AUTHORITY to implement a monitoring, mitigation and management program is required
Legal Authority Because shellfish harvested from polluted water may cause human illness, sanitary control of the shellfish industry is necessary. The ISSC, a voluntary cooperative association of states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, academia, and the shellfish industry. The ISSC is the entity that modifies the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP), which provides the uniform standards and guidelines for shellfish safety which are adopted by States required for interstate commerce.
III. National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Monitoring and Management Requirements for Karenia brevis 4. NEED: Any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must have an EARLY WARNING SYSTEM and INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 5. NEED: Any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must have provide guidance for DATA COLLECTION. 6. NEED: Any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must have a STANDARD SETTING BODY.
Early Warning Systems and Data Management Systems -Initiated when fish-kills, discolored waters, and/or respiratory irritation are present and/or reported in or near a Shellfish Harvesting Area -Initiated when satellite imagery suggests potential bloom in or near a Shellfish Harvesting Area -Accurate and real-time data management systems are needed to provide data in or near a Shellfish Harvesting Area
Data Collection Requirements Where, When, and How: Samples shall be collected from indicator stations at intervals determined by the State Shellfish Authority Water samples are collected at indicator stations (offshore and near shore) to determine cell count concentrations (cells per liter) Meat samples are collected in areas where marine biotoxins are likely to occur in shellfish
7. NEED: Any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must have a THE ABILTY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM. Water Sampling Stations Meat Sampling Stations
Management Requirements 8. NEED: Any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must have CLEARLY DEFINED STANDARDS or ACTION LEVELS based on the best available science.
Regulatory Standards and Action Levels for Management Any water sample resulting in >5,000 cells per liter of the red tide organism Karenia brevis requires a closure of the entire Shellfish Harvesting Area Monitoring of red tide water sampling stations continues until <5,000 cells per liter are achieved at all stations Then meat sampling begins and continues until levels of toxicity are <20 mouse units per 100 grams When both: (1) all water samples are <5,000 cells per liter and (2) all meat samples are <20 mouse units per 100 grams, then re-opening of the area can be initiated
Management Documentation 9. NEED: Any monitoring, mitigation, and management program must be DOCUMENTED IN WRITTEN PLANS.
IV. Mitigation: Alternative Karenia brevis Management Possibilities Regulation changes Quarantine program East/West Management Relaying
Rule Changes Establish by State Rule, new classification zones for the existing Shellfish Harvesting Area Each new classification area would have separate rainfall/river/seasonal management and would have separate red tide management
Pilot Quarantine Program Agreements between the State and certified processing plant processor to allow for: a one day harvest from one lease area product segregated and quarantined at the certified processor quarantined product lot is sampled for NSP quarantined product released to market if all NSP samples are <20 MU/ 100 grams quarantined product returned to same lease area if any NSP sample is 20 MU/100 grams or greater not permitted if any red tide water sample is >200,000 cells per liter has been implemented in the three leased areas in the State of Florida
East/West Management Eastern and Western portions are closed when any of the established red tide stations are >5,000 cells per liter (same as current NSSP requirements) Upon re-sampling, a portion can be reopened when: (1) <5,000 cells per liter for all water samples in that portion and (2) <20 mouse units per 100 grams for all meat samples in that portion and (3) <50,000 cells per liter in all red tide samples from the other portion. Note: a reopened portion will be closed whenever any of the red tide water samples in that portion are >5,000 cells per liter and/or when any of the red tide water samples in the other portion are >50,000 cells per liter
Relaying Shellfish can be relayed under strict supervision from aquaculture leases in areas closed due to a red tide event to leased areas in the same geographic region that are open for harvest (note: the leased areas are closed to harvest). Relayed shellfish can be harvested for market after cleansing for a minimum of fifteen days and sampling to ensure toxicity levels are not above the standards.
V. Karenia brevis Outcomes Nationwide, very few reports of NSP illnesses from commercial shellfish harvest. Nationwide, few reports of NSP from recreational shellfish harvest from open waters. Note: There are sporadic NSP cases and NSP outbreaks from illegal recreational harvest in never open areas or areas temporarily closed shellfish harvesting area nationwide.
V. Karenia brevis Outcomes 10. NEED: PUBIC EDUCATION and STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT are critical
SEAFOOD SAFETY SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO RED TIDE (Karenia brevis) Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish (oysters, clams, and mussels) can only be harvested (both commercially and recreationally/self-harvest) from OPEN waters as identified by the State of Florida (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services). The State of Florida has a proactive red tide contingency plan to temporarily close shellfish waters prior to the shellfish becoming contaminated by red tide. Prior to reopening waters for shellfish harvesting, The State of Florida tests waters and shellfish tissues to be sure they are safe to consume. No illnesses of Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning have been reported from commercial harvest of oysters, clams, or mussels harvested in Florida the past 40 years. Therefore, oysters, clams, and mussels found in seafood restaurants and seafood markets even during a red tide event can be safely consumed by the public because those oysters, clams, or mussels are harvested from waters not impacted by red tide. Other Seafood: 1. The commonly edible parts of finfish, crabs, shrimp, and lobsters can be safely consumed during the occurrence of a Karenia brevis red tide event. 2. All possible chronic human health problems that could be associated with the low levels of Karenia breve toxins in seafood are not known, but no adverse public health impacts have been reported through the past 40 years. 3. For recreational harvest, consuming only the muscle of Bay Scallops is safe during a red tide event (however, do not consume the non-mussel parts or viscera); consuming any distressed or dead animal is always discouraged because the reason for the strange behavior or death is not known; and do not consume whelks (gastropods or snails) during a red tide event. Note: Cooking seafood does not protect against Karenia brevis toxins (the toxins are heat stable). Overall Conclusions: Seafood found in seafood restaurants and seafood markets even during a red tide event can be safely consumed by the public; including oysters, clams, or mussels because they are harvested from waters not impacted by red tide. Certain seafood recreationally caught during a red tide event (as described above) can be safely consumed.
Questions? David Heil, Ph.D., M.P.H. heild@doacs.state.fl.us