476
N. A. H. El Semary
taxa that are used in aquaculture and showed the physical and chemical conditions
that affect them.
Blooms of phytoplanktonic algae can flourish and can decline according to several
factors including for example the presence of iron in marine habitats [47]. However,
toxic and harmful algal blooms should particuarly be monitored [48] as they can biofoul ships and spread from one country to another (http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.
php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=16, http://www.whoi.edu/
redtide/, http://www.issha.org/Welcome-to-ISSHA/Harmful-algae). According to
[49], biofouling guidelines can be useful in pointinng out risk sources and control
measures (http://www.gisp.org/publications/toolkit/BiofoulingGuidelines.pdf). On
the biological front, biofouling algal species are mostly microscopic and lack enough
diagnostic phenotypic features. Misidentification or overlooking some harmful algal
species due to the sole use of traditional methods in the examination can lead
to erroneous conclusions. Similarly, ballast water can pose a risk of transferring
harmful algal blooms [50], http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=57413 and therefore
must be controlled through conventions among nations [51], http://www.imo.org/
en/About/Conventions/ListOfConventions/Pages/International-Convention-for-theControl-and-Management-of-Ships’-Ballast-Water-and-Sediments-(BWM).aspx.
7 Conclusion
Algae are primary producers that form the base of the food web and represent the
basic meal of aquatic animals such as fishes and crustaceans upon which the human
beings feed. Therefore and in order to secure food resources from aquatic water
bodies, the beneficial and nutrient-rich algae whether macroscopic or microscopic
can be cultured and grown in both marine environments and inland. The algae can
also be grown for their carotenoids that play many functions in aquatic animals.
However, some oceans are high in their nutrients and low in their iron content. This
causes a reduction in phytoplankton densities. One solution for this and for global
warming issue is iron fertilization of those oceans that would increase phytoplankton,
increase aquatic animals and decrease global warming as a result of carbon dioxide
consumption and oxygen release. However, toxic algae can harm and kill edible
aquatic animals thereby causing massive aquatic animals die off Toxins can even be
transferred to human beings leading to health risks. Therefore, toxic algae and factors
leading to their proliferation must be studied extensively and thoroughly monitored
as they can be transferred through biofouling and ballast water.
8 Recommendations
1. The expansion of non-toxic algal mariculture whether for micro and macroalgae.
N. A. H. El Semary
taxa that are used in aquaculture and showed the physical and chemical conditions
that affect them.
Blooms of phytoplanktonic algae can flourish and can decline according to several
factors including for example the presence of iron in marine habitats [47]. However,
toxic and harmful algal blooms should particuarly be monitored [48] as they can biofoul ships and spread from one country to another (http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.
php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=16, http://www.whoi.edu/
redtide/, http://www.issha.org/Welcome-to-ISSHA/Harmful-algae). According to
[49], biofouling guidelines can be useful in pointinng out risk sources and control
measures (http://www.gisp.org/publications/toolkit/BiofoulingGuidelines.pdf). On
the biological front, biofouling algal species are mostly microscopic and lack enough
diagnostic phenotypic features. Misidentification or overlooking some harmful algal
species due to the sole use of traditional methods in the examination can lead
to erroneous conclusions. Similarly, ballast water can pose a risk of transferring
harmful algal blooms [50], http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=57413 and therefore
must be controlled through conventions among nations [51], http://www.imo.org/
en/About/Conventions/ListOfConventions/Pages/International-Convention-for-theControl-and-Management-of-Ships’-Ballast-Water-and-Sediments-(BWM).aspx.
7 Conclusion
Algae are primary producers that form the base of the food web and represent the
basic meal of aquatic animals such as fishes and crustaceans upon which the human
beings feed. Therefore and in order to secure food resources from aquatic water
bodies, the beneficial and nutrient-rich algae whether macroscopic or microscopic
can be cultured and grown in both marine environments and inland. The algae can
also be grown for their carotenoids that play many functions in aquatic animals.
However, some oceans are high in their nutrients and low in their iron content. This
causes a reduction in phytoplankton densities. One solution for this and for global
warming issue is iron fertilization of those oceans that would increase phytoplankton,
increase aquatic animals and decrease global warming as a result of carbon dioxide
consumption and oxygen release. However, toxic algae can harm and kill edible
aquatic animals thereby causing massive aquatic animals die off Toxins can even be
transferred to human beings leading to health risks. Therefore, toxic algae and factors
leading to their proliferation must be studied extensively and thoroughly monitored
as they can be transferred through biofouling and ballast water.
8 Recommendations
1. The expansion of non-toxic algal mariculture whether for micro and macroalgae.