Fish Kills Related to Harmful Algal Bloom Events in Southeast Asia

Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone (), Aletta T. Yñiguez, Garry Benico, Wai Mun Lum, Kieng Soon Hii, Sandric Chee Yew Leong, Chui Pin Leaw, Mitsunori Iwataki and Po Teen Lim
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Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone: Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Aletta T. Yñiguez: Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Garry Benico: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz 3120, Philippines
Wai Mun Lum: Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Yokohama 236-8648, Japan
Kieng Soon Hii: Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok 16310, Kelantan, Malaysia
Sandric Chee Yew Leong: St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore
Chui Pin Leaw: Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok 16310, Kelantan, Malaysia
Mitsunori Iwataki: Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Po Teen Lim: Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok 16310, Kelantan, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: Fish kills in Southeast Asia are frequently associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) and cause significant ecological and economic impacts and can have negative effects on the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems and the fisheries they support. This paper serves as a review of fish-kill events with focus on those related to HABs within the region. It examines the causative algal species, known mechanisms of fish mortality, and socio-economic consequences in order to better understand and manage this threat to sustainable fisheries. Fish kills have been reported across multiple countries within Southeast Asia, with notable hotspots in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. The common harmful microalgal species span a diverse group including dinoflagellates ( Karenia spp., Karlodinium spp., Margalefidinium polykrikoides, Noctiluca scintillans ), raphidophytes ( Chattonella spp.), diatoms ( Skeletonema spp. and Chaetoceros spp.), and cyanobacteria ( Trichodesmium spp.). These microalgae lead to fish kills through mechanisms such as hypoxia, physical gill damage, and ichthyotoxin production. Freshwater fish kills linked to HABs have also been documented for the Philippines, but there is no or limited information for the region. Our review highlights the widespread and recurring nature of fish kills, their impact on fisheries and aquaculture, and challenges in managing and mitigating their effects. There are efforts at enhancing management and mitigation using clay and early warning systems. However, it is essential to further improve monitoring efforts, the development and deployment of early warning systems, and viable and holistic mitigation strategies to protect the region’s aquatic resources and dependent communities, especially as aquaculture and coastal development are increasing concurrent with a changing climate that can exacerbate the risks of fish kills and HABs in Southeast Asia.

Keywords: aquaculture; dinoflagellates; ichthyotoxic; harmful microalgae; hypoxia; raphidophytes; sustainable fisheries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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