The ANFACO-CECOPESCA project for the prevention of food risks due to emerging marine toxins and microcystins associated with climate change has been completed. Some conclusions have been established, but further study is needed to determine more consequences on food chains.

The National Association of Canned Fish Manufacturers (ANFACO-CECOPESCA) has completed the project ‘Prevention of food risks due to emerging marine toxins and microcystins associated with climate change: evaluation of transfer in food chains’. This initiative has had the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition within the framework of its 2017 call for grants.

In this project, the risk of the appearance of emerging marine toxins associated with the warming of waters (palytoxin and tetrodotoxin) has been studied and a method for the detection of microalgae of the genus Ostreopsis, producer of palytoxins, has been developed. On the other hand, the risk of transfer of microcystins to ecosystems near river mouths has been studied. These toxins are produced in bodies of fresh water but could be dragged in the current, incorporated by different organisms and transmitted in the food chain. During the work carried out, no palytoxin or tetrodotoxin has been detected, but microcystins have been detected in different concentrations.

The increase in water temperature associated with climate change entails the risk of the appearance on our coasts of toxins that were traditionally associated with warm areas. For its study, mollusc samples have been collected and analysed in Galicia, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Andalusia. In total, more than 250 analyses have been carried out using different methodologies, including PCR analysis, microscopic observation, mass spectrometry and ELISAs. A PCR-based methodology has been developed for the analysis of Ostreopsis, the pallidoxin-producing microalgae, in water. Ostreopsis was not found in Galicia or Andalusia, but it was found in Catalonia and the Valencian Community. Evidence has been found that microcystins produced in freshwater bodies accumulate in marine molluscs in coastal areas near river mouths. Although the concentrations of microcystins detected in molluscs are not high, it is advisable to continue monitoring during episodes of production of these toxins.

The conclusions they reached are that the increase in the temperature of seawater entails the risk of proliferation of species, microalgae from warmer latitudes that produce toxins that are not usual on our coasts, as well as the proliferation of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria in fresh water. In the samples analysed during this project, no palytoxin or tetrodotoxin has been detected, but microcystins have been detected in relatively low concentrations, so it is advisable to continue this study.