Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
<p>Community based Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) monitoring to provide an early warning of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in Southcentral Alaska Chugach Regional Resource Commission 1 Project Summary Project Title: Community based Harmful Algal Bloom monitoring to provide an early warning of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in Southcentral Alaska Applicant: Chugach Regional Resources Commission Address: 1840 Bragaw Street, Suite 150, Anchorage, Alaska 99508 Contact: Willow Hetrick (PI), willow@crrcalaska.org, www.crrcalaska.org, (907) 330-9085 Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is on the rise and un-monitored for subsistence and recreational harvesters in Southcentral Alaska, putting subsistence shellfish harvesters at great risk of illness and even death. Currently, there is not a state run harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring program in Alaska, and regional Tribal networks are taking the initiative to collect critical phytoplankton and shellfish toxin data that can be used to inform subsistence harvesters of current PSP risk levels at key shellfish harvest sites. The Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) is an inter-Tribal consortium that supports seven Tribal governments in Southcentral Alaska. CRRC operates the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery (APSH), a facility located in Seward, Alaska with facility space to implement this project. The ability to sustainably and safely harvest wild shellfish for subsistence is a priority for CRRC, but without a robust HAB monitoring program in place, Tribal subsistence harvesters are at risk of consuming shellfish with high levels of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) that could have severe health risks. The goal of this project is to create a regional harmful algal bloom program linking all seven Southcentral Tribal governments together to make weekly phytoplankton observations, collect shellfish for toxin analysis, and disseminate critical data and outreach material to increase the awarenes s of PSP and the risks associated with harvesting wild shellfish during HAB events. CRRC partners will learn how to collect and identify phytoplankton species that produce toxins, collect and prepare shellfish samples for toxin testing, work with other Tribally-led regional HAB programs in Alaska and Pacific Northwest states, and communicate data and information back to community members. The long-term community goal for CRRC is to build analytical capacity to support all seven Tribal partners with quick, accurate testing of paralytic shellfish toxins. This would provide each community with the ability to develop shellfish management plans that include monitoring strategies to adapt to HAB events, providing safe and sustainable access to traditional shellfish resources.</p>
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