Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in Alaska

Speaker: Bruce Wright, Knik Tribe Chief Scientist

In Alaska, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is caused by toxins (PSTs) produced by the microscopic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella. PSP is usually associated with consumption of toxin-containing bivalves, but PSTs can also be present in other biota during Alexandrium blooms, including species that do not feed on shellfish. The Knik Tribe PSP project began in 2006 with sampling all along coastal Alaska from Ketchikan, to the end of the Aleutian Islands and in the Bering Sea north to Norton Sound using local samplers in an extensive community-based monitoring program. Here, we report results from a project investigating occurrence of PSTs in marine species across southern Alaska where Alexandrium blooms and shellfish toxicity occur. We will review some of our recent findings and present our PSP monitoring program plans for the next four years.

This event is being hosted by the ACCAP and OneHealth