Impact of Climate Change on Emergence of Biotoxin in Fish and Shellfish

Abstract

Biotoxins in aquatic ecosystem have major implications in both aquatic and human health. More than 100 known species of marine algae are harmful. Major 5 groups of biotoxins have been classified till date but the advent of climate change across globe results in various changes in their type and congeners. Several biotic and abiotic factors along with coastal eutrophication and seasonal upwelling enhance the blooming of HABs, due to the abundance of high nutrient contents along with regional warming. HABs are responsible for the production of biotoxins via consumption contaminated bivalve mollusks (PSP and DSP) and large predatory reef fishes (ciguatoxin). This opens up immense research opportunities in the characterization of the toxin produced by the HABs. Several reports are available suggesting that HABs are spatially and temporally distributed causing morbidity and death in marine organisms. Analysis of biotoxins has been up trended with latest technologies but still MBA remains legal as per regulatory guidelines. This chapter aims to focus on different types of biotoxins produced, several factors affecting its emergence in aquatic ecosystems due to climate change and their analysis.