Shellfish and Environmental Change

Location: Coastal Alaska

Description:

Alaska is known for bountiful shellfish populations. From crabs, to mussels, oysters and clams shellfish are also important subsistence and commercial foods. With warming climate there are new and emerging challenges for shellfish resources related to ocean conditions, acidification, invasive species and changing sea level change. There are also new and emerging risks related to shellfish safety as a food resource, including shellfish toxins that make shellfish unsafe. Levels in recent years have been persistently high (PSP above FDA commercial levels) as compared with years past when conditions were only seasonally high. There is also emerging bacteria (vibrio parahaemolyticus) that thrives in warmer water and can make eating raw shellfish dangerous. This project is an effort to look at shellfish change, and to understand the connects between changing climate, environmental impacts and health effects.

Funding: Open invitation to funders

Partners: APIA, ANTHC, QTT Tribe, APU, Observing Guidance: standard observational guidance.

Source Data: LEO Network posts

Outputs: Shellfish observation map and timeline.

Project Updates: Pending

Resources:

SeaGrant Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in Alaska, Facts and Discussion

See State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletins. See Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point Alaska - PSP Program

Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association PSP Site

Alaska Pacific University Ninilchik Beach Razor Clam Study

Media

(2016-02-12) Associated Press (AP) - Research finds harmful algae toxins in Alaska marine mammals

Harmful Algal Blooms - GAO Report