The Workshop for the Analysis of the Impact of Perkinsosis to the European Shellfish Industry was an International Workshop funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Program that took place September 12-14, 2007 in Vigo (Spain).

The Workshop brought together industry, research community and administration in a 3 day meeting to address the threat of perkinsosis to European shellfish industry.

Perkinsosis affects molluscs in the five continents, resulting in high mortality of some commercial species and huge economic impact. Some species of the genus Perkinsus (P. olseni and P. mediterraneus) are known to affect bivalve molluscs of the European coasts and other species (P. marinus, P. chesapeaki and P. honshuensis) are exotic to Europe.

Five thematic sessions each included an opening lecture followed by oral presentations and a final round table for open discussion that featured experts from other countries whose shellfish industries are deeply concerned with perkinsosis, such as USA, South Korea and Australia. Outcomes of the workshop are included in a specific publication to enhance its broad dissemination.

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Main Topics

Session 1: Parasites of the genus Perkinsus. Life cycle and transmission ways; host species; taxonomy and phylogeny; physiology/metabolism; diagnostic tools.

Session 2. Epizootiology. Geographic range; environmental influence; temporal patterns of disease dynamics; modelling for prediction.

Session 3. Host-pathogen interaction. Host immune reaction; pathogen virulence factors; pathogen mechanisms to elude host response; effects on host physiology.

Session 4. Effects on shellfish industry. Socio-economic aspects of clam industry, with emphasis in Europe; losses due to Perkinsus in Europe and out of Europe; risk of introduction of exotic Perkinsus spp. into Europe through shellfish imports and other ways.

Session 5. Control and fighting strategies. International rules controlling mollusc traffic; selection programmes for resistance; production of Perkinsus-free seed; therapeutics; culture/fishery management; bed restoration.

Session 6. Conclusions. General conclusions, identified research priorities and recommendations to policy makers.

Dear Colleagues,

In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, several members are soliciting data and expert input on the condition of habitat forming bivalve shellfish (primarily mussels and oysters) within their native ranges. They write:

We would greatly appreciate your help in completing a brief survey on the status and change in shellfish populations in your area. This survey is part of a Shellfish Reefs at Risk project, which aims to identify the global distribution and condition of habitat-forming, native bivalve species. We focus on oyster and mussel species that form reefs and beds. This survey helps fill in missing data points for shellfish populations in bays and coasts globally. If you have information on multiple taxa or bays then please fill in multiple sheets as this will help us develop the most comprehensive data set possible. Ultimately the shellfish distribution database will be made widely available on the web.

You can complete the survey online at shellfish survey.

More information including a fact sheet and some preliminary distribution maps can be found at Shellfish Reefs at Risk.

Thanks,

Mike Beck, Rob Brumbaugh, Loren Coen, Omar Defeo, Hunter Lenihan, Mark Luckenbach, Caitlyn Toropova and Jeff Vincent

For more info contact Caitlyn Toropova, Program Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy Global Marine Initiative

(831) 459-1460 (Phone)

(831) 459-3383 (Fax)

ctoropova@tnc.org

nature.org/initiatives/marine

Center of Ocean Health 100 Shaffer Rd. Santa Cruz, CA 95060

We would like to remind you that the meeting “Physiological aspects of reproduction, nutrition and growth, Marine molluscs in a changing environment” will be held in Brest from 1st to 4th September 2008. Be aware that the deadline for abstracts submission is February 29, 2008. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.univ-brest.fr/IUEM/PHYSIOMAR/ to review our program, proposed accomodation and recent site updates.

We hope to meet you in Brest in France in September. You can also support the Physiomar 08 meeting by forwarding this mail to colleagues active in the field of mollusc physiology.

Kind Regards,

The organizing committee.