WESTPAC training workshop on “Introductory scientific diving for benthic dinoflagellate sampling and processing” was held in Phuket, Thailand from 17-21 September 2018, with the participation of more than 30 young researchers, fishery officers and graduate students from six countries in the WESTPAC region (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam).

This event was co-organized by the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), with generous financial support of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO, and great technical assistance of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Sea Dweller Underwater Academy (SDUA), University of Malaya (UM), and the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO) of the State Oceanic Administration of China.

This training workshop was an intensive high-level training held in the WESTPAC region on carefully defined scientific subjects. In view of a lack of scientific diving trainings and limited research capacity for benthic dinoflagellates in the WESTPAC countries, this training workshop aims to train young scientists and the government authorities in the region with the standard protocols for introductory scientific diving, underwater sampling, sample processing, culturing and identification of marine benthic dinoflagellates.

Coral in Situ Metabolism and Energetics (CISME) training in confine pool

Benthic and Epiphytic Toxic Algae (BETA) sampler training in open water environment

Under the technical guidance of diving experts and scientific experts, students have access to two main functions of scientific diving:

• The research support function that assists the diving scientist with specialized underwater equipment: the background and history of scientific diving, scientific diving training and its applications in different underwater scientific research. Students were trained not only with basic scientific diving techniques such as advance kicking, buoyancy control etc., but also methodologies for collecting biologically relevant data including the use of transect, quadrats, sample bottles and bags, etc. Demonstration was also conducted how to use various scientific equipment including ‘Coral Watch’, ‘Coral Finder”, Coral in Situ Metabolism and Energetics (CISME), Benthic and Epiphytic Toxic Algae (BETA) sampler etc.
• The risk management function that protects the safety and health of the individual scientist, and the employing organization from excess liability exposure.

Specializing in toxic algae, a group of trainees focused mainly on marine benthic dinoflagellates, its sampling methods, identification, cell isolation techniques, culture establishment and maintenance. This session was conducted through a series of lectures, and hands-on exercise on the application of the single-cell isolation by the sampling methods using artificial substrates, micropipetting technique, culture media selection and culture preparations; ciguatera fish poisoning and the benthic dinoflagellates; taxonomy of benthic dinoflagellates by morphological data and molecular evidence to support species delineation.

Microscopic observation of benthic dinoflagellates cells for samples extracted from seaweed and sediments

All participants practiced observing and isolating dinoflagellate cells from the natural substrate samples collected from the nearby shore and coral reefs. Several genera of harmful dinoflagellates were identified and isolated for culture establishment, including Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Coolia and Amphidinium. Participants also learned the techniques of medium preparation, setting up culture collection, maintenance and management of culture collection during the practical sessions.

The ensuring plenary discussions culminated in a conclusion that participants from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam agreed to adopt the Benthic HAB artificial substrate sampling method (Tester et al. 2014, Yong et al. 2018) and committed to carrying out comparative studies at the coral reefs and seaweed beds of the respective countries. Participants expected more workshops on ciguatera fish poisoning and benthic dinoflagellates will be organized in the near future in this region to address the emerging issues in seafood safety.

(Source IOC/WESTPAC)