Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study

This study explored harmful algal bloom (HAB) risk as a function of exposure, hazard and vulnerability, using Scotland as a case study. Exposure was defined as the fish biomass estimated to be lost from a bloom event, based on the total recorded annual production. Hazard was estimated from literatur...

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Main Authors: Fatima Gianella, Michael T. Burrows, Keith Davidson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Toxins
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/1/35
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author Fatima Gianella
Michael T. Burrows
Keith Davidson
author_facet Fatima Gianella
Michael T. Burrows
Keith Davidson
author_sort Fatima Gianella
collection DOAJ
description This study explored harmful algal bloom (HAB) risk as a function of exposure, hazard and vulnerability, using Scotland as a case study. Exposure was defined as the fish biomass estimated to be lost from a bloom event, based on the total recorded annual production. Hazard was estimated from literature-reported bloom events. Vulnerability was calculated from records of the number of employees (2020), as an estimate of aquaculture-based employment. The dinoflagellate <i>Karenia mikimotoi</i> was identified as the HAB species with the highest frequency of reported bloom events in Scotland, with variable spatial and temporal reports, but environmental and climatological variables regulating these events are currently unknown. The Shetland Islands region exhibited the highest combined HAB risk, with the highest scores in all three components. Vulnerability was particularly important to overall risk within an island setting, where a larger proportion of the population was dependent on aquaculture. The analysis demonstrated the potential to evaluate the economic and social consequences of HAB events on the aquaculture industry. As fish-killing HABs and fish health impacts are likely under-reported, more transparent reporting of events and related fish health and physiological consequences is recommended for a more quantitative application of this approach.
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spelling doaj-art-91d36b3898904ebc9f138421c73eef532025-01-24T13:51:17ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-01-011713510.3390/toxins17010035Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case StudyFatima Gianella0Michael T. Burrows1Keith Davidson2Scottish Association for Marine Science—UHI, Oban PA37 1QA, UKScottish Association for Marine Science—UHI, Oban PA37 1QA, UKScottish Association for Marine Science—UHI, Oban PA37 1QA, UKThis study explored harmful algal bloom (HAB) risk as a function of exposure, hazard and vulnerability, using Scotland as a case study. Exposure was defined as the fish biomass estimated to be lost from a bloom event, based on the total recorded annual production. Hazard was estimated from literature-reported bloom events. Vulnerability was calculated from records of the number of employees (2020), as an estimate of aquaculture-based employment. The dinoflagellate <i>Karenia mikimotoi</i> was identified as the HAB species with the highest frequency of reported bloom events in Scotland, with variable spatial and temporal reports, but environmental and climatological variables regulating these events are currently unknown. The Shetland Islands region exhibited the highest combined HAB risk, with the highest scores in all three components. Vulnerability was particularly important to overall risk within an island setting, where a larger proportion of the population was dependent on aquaculture. The analysis demonstrated the potential to evaluate the economic and social consequences of HAB events on the aquaculture industry. As fish-killing HABs and fish health impacts are likely under-reported, more transparent reporting of events and related fish health and physiological consequences is recommended for a more quantitative application of this approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/1/35HABsfish-killing algaerisk assessment<i>Karenia mikimotoi</i>Scotlandsalmon farming
spellingShingle Fatima Gianella
Michael T. Burrows
Keith Davidson
Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study
Toxins
HABs
fish-killing algae
risk assessment
<i>Karenia mikimotoi</i>
Scotland
salmon farming
title Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study
title_full Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study
title_fullStr Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study
title_short Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study
title_sort risk assessment of harmful algal blooms in salmon farming scotland as a case study
topic HABs
fish-killing algae
risk assessment
<i>Karenia mikimotoi</i>
Scotland
salmon farming
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/1/35
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AT michaeltburrows riskassessmentofharmfulalgalbloomsinsalmonfarmingscotlandasacasestudy
AT keithdavidson riskassessmentofharmfulalgalbloomsinsalmonfarmingscotlandasacasestudy