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Harmful Algae and Their Commercial Implications

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Algae Biotechnology

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Microalgae are an important source of primary production in the oceans’ food webs and are therefore beneficial to humankind. Of the huge diversity of algae only 6 % are estimated to multiply to form harmful algae blooms (HABs) and less than 2 % of the described species produce potent biotoxins. This small number of algae can, however, have great economic impacts in terms of public health, commercial fisheries and recreation and tourism.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program;

  2. 2.

    Ecocert is an inspection and certification body established in France in 1991 by agronomists aware of the need to develop environmentally friendly agriculture and of the importance of offering some form of recognition to those commited to this method of production;

  3. 3.

    Organic Crop Improvement Association;

  4. 4.

    The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organisation that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide;

  5. 5.

    Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) is a systematic preventative approach to food safety from biological, chemical and physical hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe, and designs measurements to reduce these risks to a safe level;

  6. 6.

    Bureau Veritas Certification assesses management systems and provides certification to the particular standard.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Dr. Susie Wood, Cawthron Institute, for expert advice on cyanobacteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Private Bag 2, Nelson, 7042, New Zealand

    Lesley Rhodes

  2. AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, 10 Bisley Road Private Bag 3240, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Rex Munday

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  1. Lesley Rhodes
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Correspondence to Lesley Rhodes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Water and, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Faizal Bux

  2. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Yusuf Chisti

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Rhodes, L., Munday, R. (2016). Harmful Algae and Their Commercial Implications. In: Bux, F., Chisti, Y. (eds) Algae Biotechnology. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12334-9_15

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