Complex environmental disaster due to El Niño Godzila in Chile affecting sea food and environment

From January to April of 2016, El Niño “Godzila”, the strongest of last 50 years, was at Chilean coast causing environment disaster with social and economic effects: The salmon & shellfish industry coexist, with several... [ view full abstract ]

From January to April of 2016, El Niño “Godzila”, the strongest of last 50 years, was at Chilean coast causing environment disaster with social and economic effects:

The salmon & shellfish industry coexist, with several problems of yields and management the last ten years as Infectious Salmon Anaemia ( ISA virus) and sea louse Caligus rogerscresseyi (Copepod Caligus). The first event of bloom this 2016  was caused  by microalgae raphidophites produced the death of 24 million of salmon (32 000 tons). The material was deposited 130 km northwest of Chiloe island in an open ocean considering currents and the deepest characteristic of the area.

Two week after the deposition of salmon tons, an incredible increased of algal bloom of Alexandrium catenella, was observed. The concentration of the saxotoxins were as high as 6000 ug/g of digestive glands, were the accepted levels for consumption is 80. This amount of toxins were in an extension of 5 km of aground of mollusk Mesodesma donacium. Since April of 2016 the laboratories is libering areas were the toxins levels are acceptable for human consumption.  Non outbreaks of human pathogens as Vibrio parahaemolyticus were observed and not scientific relationship between disasters were described.

The local people, were so strongly affected at social-economic levels forcing the government to management & support more than 2000 people for several months.