Table_2_Addressing the Problem of Harmful Algal Blooms in Latin America and the Caribbean- A Regional Network for Early Warning and Response.DOCX

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) constitute a worldwide problem, affecting aquatic ecosystems, public health and local economies. Supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2009, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela, have integrated a regional network for early warning of HABs and biotoxins in seafood. Technical capacities have been developed at regional level to identify toxic species, evaluate biota toxicity, and to perform retrospective analysis of HAB occurrence. This network involves 58% of the coastal LAC countries, two regional reference centers (in El Salvador and Cuba), 14 well equipped institutions, and 177 professionals trained to contribute to the operation of HAB and biotoxin monitoring programs. All countries from the network have reported planktonic and benthic toxic species, and in selected cases, associated with toxin in biota. Dinocyst abundance analysis in 210Pb-dated sediment cores have shown that some harmful species have been present in the region for at least 100 years ago, and that both coastal water pollution and climate change are important drivers for HAB occurrence. Efforts must be made to enrich the data base records on HAB events occurred in LAC, better understand key environmental variables that control HABs and expand coverage of HAB monitoring to all coastal countries in LAC to promote sustainable development of the region.

有害藻华（Harmful algal blooms, HABs）是全球性的环境难题，对水生生态系统、公众健康及地方经济均造成诸多负面影响。自2009年起，在国际原子能机构（International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA）的支持下，拉丁美洲和加勒比地区（Latin America and the Caribbean, LAC）的14个成员国——包括巴西、智利、哥伦比亚、哥斯达黎加、古巴、多米尼加共和国、萨尔瓦多、危地马拉、海地、墨西哥、尼加拉瓜、巴拿马、乌拉圭与委内瑞拉——已联合搭建起有害藻华与海产品生物毒素（biotoxins）早期预警区域网络。该区域已建成配套技术能力体系，可完成有毒藻种鉴定、生物群落毒性评估以及有害藻华发生情况的回溯分析工作。该网络覆盖拉丁美洲和加勒比地区58%的沿海国家，设有2个区域参考中心（分别位于萨尔瓦多与古巴）、14个装备精良的科研机构，以及177名经过专业培训、可参与有害藻华与生物毒素监测项目运维的技术人员。所有入网国家均已报告过浮游与底栖有毒藻种的存在，部分案例中还检测到了生物体内携带的相关毒素。对经铅-210（210Pb）定年的沉积物岩芯开展的孢囊丰度分析表明，该区域部分有害藻种的存续历史至少已达百年之久，而近岸水体污染与气候变化则是驱动有害藻华发生的两大关键因素。后续仍需推进多项工作：一是丰富拉丁美洲和加勒比地区有害藻华事件的数据库记录，二是深入解析调控有害藻华发生的核心环境变量，三是将有害藻华监测覆盖范围拓展至拉丁美洲和加勒比地区所有沿海国家，以此助力该区域的可持续发展。