Toxic and harmful marine phytoplankton and microalgae (HABs) in Mexican Coasts

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are becoming an increasing prohlem to human health and environment (including effects on natural and cultured resources. tourism and ecosystems) all over the world. In Mexico a number of human fatalities and important economic losses have occurred in the last 30 years because of these ewnts.Thereareabou 70swiesofplanktonicand non-planktonicmicroal.~e considered harmful in Mexican foasts. The most important toxin-producing species are the dinoflagellates ~ ~ k o d i n i w n corrna& and Pvrodlniwn bahameme var. coworessum. in the Mexican Pacific. and Karenio brevis in the Gulf of Mexico. and conxauentlv the ponso&s documented in Mexico are ~aral;tic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP). ~ l t h b u ~ h;here is evidence that Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) and Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) also occur in Mexico, these problems are reported less frequently. The type of phytoplankton and epiphytic microalgae. their toxins an