Study begins on toxic-algae that cripples LI shellfish industry

Long Island's clam, oyster and mussel harvesting industries got a boost this week with the first installment of a planned federal grant of more than $500,000 to research early warning systems for toxic algae blooms that can lead to paralysis or death for those who eat tainted shellfish.

The toxins have resulted in the closing of 11,400 acres of fertile shellfish beds on Long Island since 2006, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.

"This work will enable consumers of New York shellfish to remain confident in the quality of the local seafood they enjoy and enable New York to safeguard a commercial industry generating $19 million per year," NOAA said.

The first-year award of $125,614 was given to scientists at Stony Brook University and partner institutions researching new methods of monitoring and predicting harmful blooms caused by Alexandrium and Dinophysisparalytic algae,  the NOAA,  the granting agency, said. The grant is expected to be renewed for two more years for a total of $591,082.

"Eating shellfish tainted with toxins from these marine algae species can lead to paralytic shellfish poisoning  and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning  in humans," NOAA said.

"The project will investigate advanced monitoring technologies and early warning methods to help New York respond to a growing toxic algae bloom problem that is a threat to public health and jobs that depend upon harvesting and marketing of seafood.

The grants go to Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and its research partners at the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and a citizens volunteer group, Phytoplankton Monitoring Network.

NOAA’s stated mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

Photo: Crew from the fishing boat Waldron B. sort  hundreds of fresh oysters pulled from the Long Island Sound off Oyster Bay and Bayville. (Oct. 5, 2011)