IOC (UNESCO) taxonomic training in identification and enumeration of harmful algae

This report has been prepared for Safefish following completion of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO Course on Identification & Enumeration of Harmful Algae (Denmark, August 2014). Funding to attend the course was provided by Safefish, an FRDC International Travel Bursary, UTas and IMAS.

The report includes a brief overview of the IOC Taxonomic course, and a summary of methods of pre-concentration and enumeration, requested by Safefish, to address the following topics;

- Concentration techniques for enumeration (sedimentation, Utermöhl, filtration) including an indication of current level of international acceptance for each technique

- Areas of concern with any of the above techniques

- Any equivalence studies between the methods

- Options for proficiency evaluation, particularly with respect to Australian algae.

The purpose of this report is to inform and promote discussions on laboratory accreditation and assessment of proficiency in methods commonly used in Australia for the identification and enumeration of marine phytoplankton. A draft of this report was presented at ASQAAC (Hobart, October, 2014) and a final report submitted to Safefish (November 2014), incorporating comments from that meeting.