Pfiesteria in Maryland:Reactions and Reality

Dan Terlizzi

Water Quality SpecialistUniversity of Maryland Sea Grant

The Chesapeake Bay…a nutrient enriched estuary

Excess Phytoplankton:

• Low oxygen

• Decline in SAV

• HAB concerns

Bad Day at HyrockAugust, 1996

• Estuarine HSB aquaculture

• Mahogany Tide including Pfiesteria and Karladinium micrum

• Copper treatment resulted in loss of 20,000 HSB

Pfiesteria piscicidaAKA “the cell from hell”

Reported to have:1)Complex life history

amoebae

cysts

vegetative cells

2) Potent toxin

3) Lesions

Karladinium micrum (Gyrodinium galatheanum)

• Hyrock kills• Chesapeake and Mid-

Atlantic• Toxin isolated • YATA

The Pfiesteria hysteria in MarylandSummer,1997

• Lesions and mortality observed on the Pocomoke river

• Connection made with Pfiesteria in NC

• Linkages made to Ag nutrients by advisory panels

Criteria for selecting events to increase Environmentalism

• A breaking event

• Compelling images of destruction

• A clearly defined villain

• Human drama

Is this the future of the Bay?

Defining the problem

• Is this a Pfiesteria problem?

• Is another organism responsible?

• What is the risk to human health?

• What is the cause?

• What can we do about it?

The Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998“The right law for the wrong reasons”

• Mandatory nutrient management

• Management of N and P

• The most stringent agricultural pollution control law in the US

• A model for other State and Federal guidelines

The Costs

• Almost $ 50 million in Seafood in 1997

• Losses to recreational boating, angling and tourism

• Alienation of the Agricultural community

Extension programmingOver 50 presentation to Stakeholders

• Emphasis on:

Water quality concerns in the Chesapeake and the nature of HABs

Uncertain links between the poultry industry and Pfiesteria

Questions about the toxicity and life history of Pfiesteria

Reactions:

• “He’s on our side”--a poultry farmer

• “How can you question the link between Pfiesteria and nutrients and not be an apologist for Frank Perdue”– Lawyer- Environmentalist