Pyrodinium species in the waters of Nunukan district had killed two local residents and 68 people poisoned in 1988.

Ever heard of a fisherman killed by eating marine biota such as fish and shellfish?, Or view the events of fish and other marine life to die in mass number?. These events may be caused by a harmful algal bloom (HAB) or the explosion of toxic microalgae that are common in coastal waters. Negative impacts of HAB phenomena are not only resulted in loss of life, but also causes economic losses and loss of livelihood of fishermen and farmers cages.

Harmful Algal Bloom What’s (HAB)? 

HAB or other terms Red tide (red tide) is a phenomenon of discoloration of sea water such as red, brown, yellow, orange and green. The color change is caused by population explosion (blooming) of phytoplankton species that are both toxic and non toxic. Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms (very small), which is classified as a type of plant. His life was hovering in the water column and its movement is very dependent of the flow of water. Red tide causing phytoplankton are generally of dinoflagellate class Pyrrophyta group. There are about 20 species of toxic dinoflagellates in the world. One type of toxic Dinoflagellates are of speciesPyrodinium bahamense var. compressum. Red tide species has a characteristic that is in the body contain chlorophyll and produce toxins when photosynthesis.

Picture species Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum, photos Scanning Electron Microscope taken using (ESM). (Source: www.extras.springer.com)