Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS August 2009
Waterfront News
FIRST REMOTE DETECTION OF HARMFUL ALGAE, TOXINS
Scientists at NOAA’s National Centers tory in Charleston, S.C. “It allows us to deter- Langlois, director of the state of California’s HABs, this research will contribute to the
for Coastal Ocean Science and the Monterey mine not only the organism causing a bloom, Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program. “This rapidly emerging U.S. Integrated Ocean Ob-
Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) but also the toxicity of the event, which is critical information for coastal managers serving System (IOOS) by adding a new way
have successfully conducted the first remote ultimately dictates whether it is a threat to the and public health officials in mitigating im- to make coastal ocean observations. IOOS is
detection of a harmful algal species and its public and the ecosystem.” pacts on the coastal ecosystem, since the a network of people and technology coordi-
toxin below the ocean’s surface. The For the first demonstration of the ESP’s toxicity of these algae can vary widely from nated by NOAA that work together to gener-
achievement was recently reported in the ability to detect HABs and their toxins, little or no toxicity to highly toxic.” ate and disseminate continuous data on our
June issue of Oceanography. Doucette and his MBARI colleague, Chris Beyond improving forecasting of coastal waters, Great Lakes, and oceans.
This achievement represents a signifi- Scholin, Ph.D., targeted certain members of
cant milestone in NOAA’s effort to monitor the algal genus Pseudo-nitzschia and their
The Distant Maine’s Fisheries Comes Alive this
the type and toxicity of harmful algal blooms neurotoxin, domoic acid in Monterey Bay,
(HABs). HABs are considered to be increas- Calif.
Summer at Maine Maritime Museum!
ing not only in their global distribution, but Pseudo-nitzschia and domoic acid have For two days this summer, Maine Mari- ing tools and explaining their use.
also in the frequency, duration, and severity been a concern in the Monterey Bay area for time Museum will literally bring to life the Gus Konitzky is an historian and re-
of their effects. HABs damage coastal eco- well over a decade. In 1991, the first U.S. fishing techniques of four centuries past on enactor who specializes in early Colonial
system health and pose threats to humans as outbreak of domoic acid poisoning was the Maine coast. On July 20 and August 18 Maine history. He has made an in-depth
well as marine life. Climate change is expected documented in Monterey Bay. This outbreak the museum will present a special program, study of the Maine fishing camps of the 17th
to exacerbate this trend, since many critical resulted in the unusual deaths of numerous Fisheries Past: A Hands-On Look at 17th Century and has assembled a historically
processes that govern HABs dynamics, pelicans and cormorants that ingested sar- Century Native American and European accurate collection of tools, clothing and
such as water temperature and ocean circula- dines and anchovies, which had accumu- Fishing on the Maine Coast. This program equipment. He will be demonstrating Euro-
tion, are influenced by climate. lated the domoic acid by feeding on a bloom will feature two well-known re-enactors in pean techniques of cleaning, flaking and dry-
A MBARI-designed robotic instrument of the toxic algae. period dress explaining and demonstrating ing fish (using real cod!) as it was done 400
called the Environmental Sample Processor, In the spring of 1998, a mass mortality of the unique methods that Native American years ago.
or ‘ESP,’ designed as a fully-functional ana- sea lions in and around the Monterey Bay and European fishermen used to harvest the Fisheries Past will run from 10:00 am –
lytical laboratory in the sea, lets researchers area was attributed to the sea lions’ feeding sea at the dawn of commercial fishing in 2:00 pm July 20 and August 18 and is open to
collect the algal cells and extract the genetic on domoic acid contaminated anchovies. Maine. anyone with general Museum admission.
information required for organism identifica- Since that time, Pseudo-nitzschia and domoic Native American Ken Hamilton has a Museum Members are FREE of charge. This
tion as well as the toxin needed to assess the acid have appeared on virtually an annual well-earned reputation as an expert on indig- program is made possible through a grant
risk to humans and wildlife. The ESP then basis in California coastal waters and are the enous hunting and fishing techniques, hav- from the Maine Humanities Council.
conducts specialized, molecular-based mea- objects of an intensive statewide monitoring ing spent years researching the subject in the The Museum is nestled along the
surements of species and toxin abundance, program run by the California Dept. of Public United States and Europe. For just as long Kennebec River in Bath and provides a
and transmits results to the laboratory via Health. Humans also can be affected by the Ken has been entertaining and educating unique experience to visitors of all ages. The
radio signals. toxin through consumption of contaminated people with his meticulously crafted por- Museum is located at 243 Washington Street,
“This represents the first autonomous seafood such as shellfish. trayal of one of Maine’s native people from and is open daily (except Thanksgiving,
detection of both a HAB species and its toxin “Our public health monitoring program the time when Europeans first came to these Christmas and New Year’s Days) from 9:30 –
by an underwater sensor,” notes Greg is one of the many groups that can benefit shores. Ken has been featured on the History 5. Admission is free for members with general
Doucette, Ph.D., a research oceanographer at directly from the ESP technology and ability Channel and in numerous documentaries. He admission charged for all others. Call (207)
NOAA’s Center for Coastal Environmental to provide an early warning of impending will appear in full traditional Native dress, 443-1316 or visit www.MaineMaritime
Health and Biomolecular Research labora- bloom activity and toxicity,” said Gregg displaying his collection of hunting and fish- Museum.org for more information.
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