[Coral-List] Meeting session announcement

[Michael Dowgiallo - NOAA Federal]

Invitation to participate in the Ciguatera Session at the Association of
Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean Scientific Conference in Willemstad,
Curaçao, May 18 - 22, 2015

Dear Colleagues,

We wanted to make you aware special session on the “Status & Future of
Ciguatera Research and Management Ciguatera Fish Poisoning” which will be
held at the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean 37th
Scientific Conference in Willemstad, Curaçao, May 18 - 22, 2015 (
http://www.amlc-carib.org/meetings/2015.html). Your participation is
welcome.  *Please note that the abstract submission deadline has been
extended until February 10, 2015. * The session description is as follows:

Globally, ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is the principal cause of
non-bacterial illness associated with seafood consumption. The toxins
(ciguatoxins) responsible for CFP are produced by dinoflagellates in the
genus *Gambierdiscus*, which are endemic to tropical and sub-tropical areas
and associated with shallow water marine ecosystems. Ciguatoxins are
lipophilic and bioaccumulate in marine food webs, typically reaching their
highest concentrations in large, carnivorous fish. While rarely fatal, CFP
can cause a multitude of gastrointestinal, neurological and cardiovascular
symptoms that can persist for days, months or years. CFP is consistently
under reported in many areas making it difficult to accurately analyze the
spatial and temporal variation in CFP occurrences. In general, CFP in the
Caribbean has been managed through traditional knowledge of local fishers
and residents. However, because *Gambierdiscus* abundance and water
temperatures are positively correlated, there is concern that increasing
seawater temperatures may increase the range of*Gambierdiscus* and
incidences of CFP. With this concern and the resurgence of interest in CFP
in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico prompted by the potential of commercial
harvests of invasive lionfish, it is imperative that we understand the
capabilities of new detection and monitoring techniques as well as the food
handling and liability issues.

This session will bring together participants from a broad spectrum of
disciplines and locations throughout the Caribbean to exchange information
on the ecology, toxicology, food web transfer and impacts of CFP, to
discuss the future of ciguatera research and to explore the latest
strategies for managing CFP.

--------------------------------------------

Sesión Especial sobre el “Estado y Futuro de la Investigación de Ciguatera
y el Manejo de la Intoxicación por Peces Ciguatos.” Wayne Litaker (NOAA) y
Tyler Smith (Universidad de las Islas Vírgenes, co-presidentes.

Globalmente, la intoxicación por peces ciguatos (CFP en inglés) es la causa
principal de enfermedad no-bacterial asociada con el consume de mariscos.
La toxina (ciguatoxinas) responsable por CFP es producida por
dinoflagelados del genero *Gambierdiscus*, los cuales son endémicos de
áreas tropicales y subtropicales y asociados con ecosistemas marinos de
poca profundidad. Las ciguatoxinas son lipofílicas y son bioacumuladas en
las redes alimenticias marinas, alcanzando típicamente sus niveles más
altos en los peces carnívoros de gran tamaño.  Aunque rara vez es fatal,
CFP puede causar una multitud de síntomas gastrointestinales, neurológicos,
y cardiovasculares los cuales pueden persistir por días, meses, o anos.. CFP
frecuentemente no es reportado en muchas áreas por lo cual es difícil
analizar con certeza la variabilidad espacio-temporal en la ocurrencia de
CFP. En general, CFP en el Caribe es manejado a través del conocimiento
tradicional de los pescadores y residentes locales. Sin embargo, porque la
abundancia de *Gambierdiscus* y la temperatura están correlacionados
positivamente, hay preocupación de que el aumento de la temperatura del
agua de mar aumente la extensión de la presencia de *Gambierdiscus* y la
incidencia de CFP. Con esta preocupación y el resurgimiento en el interés
en CFP en el Caribe y el Golfo de México estimulado por el potencial de la
captura comercial del pez león invasivo, es imperativo que entendamos la
capacidad de nuevas técnicas de detección y monitoreo al igual que el
manejo de alimentos y asuntos legales.

Esta sesión reunirá participantes de un gran espectro de disciplinas y
localización a través del Caribe para intercambiar información sobre la
ecología, toxicología, transferencia en la red alimenticia y los impactos
de CFP, para discutir el futuro de la investigación de ciguatera y explorar
las últimas estrategias para manejar CFP.



-- 
Michael Dowgiallo, Ph.D.
Chief, Regional Ecosystems Research Branch
Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
National Ocean Service, NOAA
SSMC4, 1305 East-West Highway, Rm. 8316
Silver Spring, MD  20910
301-713-3338, ext. 161 (office)
michael.dowgiallo at noaa.gov


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