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SHELLFISH CLOSURES <br /> In the Albemarle-Pamlico region,21,611 acres of shellfish waters are <br /> closed to harvesting due to contamination from agricultural and urban <br /> runoff,as well as drainage from septic tanks in unsuitable• soils.Development along the barrier islands also has caused <br /> the closure of some beds. Shellfish closures are made by <br /> im*,/ <br /> rule within a certain distance of all wastewater treatment <br /> ��� plants and marinas.Although this figure represents just 2 <br /> percent of the total 1.1 million acres of shellfish waters in <br /> the region,most of the closures occur in shallow,near-shore areas that "' <br /> often are high quality shellfish habitats. <br /> .': FISH KILLS AND DISEASES <br /> Reports of fish kills have increased in recent years.Although data is <br /> insufficient to determine if there has been an actual increase,fish kills <br /> are an indicator of general ecosystem stress. <br /> Many kills e <br /> ar attributed to low dissolved oxygen and algal blooms. <br /> In 1987, a Red Tide algal <br /> bloom caused extensive <br /> mortality in the ba <br /> scallop <br /> ty <br /> Y <br /> ATER • <br /> ::':. . ::::. ... COLUMN» <>><>' `=<< >�< « >><: ;::>:::. <br /> o ulation. Recently, a .•:.:.< ::•'•'•::::. <br /> P P <br /> Y <br /> ::' ::::•' :i'r� iii?49:. ,.... .::::: ........ V <br /> e .. <br /> -:>:�;:.... toxic dinoflagellate �N.: :;>:::::;; <br /> .......... <br /> was dis- <::<:: V. . <br /> #:.DINOSPORES:r ' ?: <-'•.>:»s: ': ' t1d <br /> covered ' <br /> CAE <br /> in the Albemarle-e- 5':::> ??> �<?`»>;� :» . >> <br /> ? PlAN01YGOTES=z> :s>»'>..>;::::>:. EA. :.:;::::;;;>;•<:.;:.;.:.:;. ;;::..:: :<.;;:: :;:;.;::;; <br /> Pamlico system that <br /> ?:FEED O <br /> N :: <br /> Y <br /> } has <br /> s:iiiii ::>:z::i:i?:> » :11 DI7:?.L. E. ::>. :ii:: <br /> >:DYING FISH;:::;;`>:>ss-:. <br /> c <br /> .... .. caused at least <`<.>.>:'>::>:ii:<n::•s>:;>::;>:::... < >: ::::<<>:::: »�< ;; ;;;:::<:;—;>:.:�:«:: .:::<: ::>>::»:: <br /> east 25 percent of .. ;;<: <br /> •:: .:.::: the fish <br /> :::.n, :.. ::FlSH <br /> '�� :;: rid:•' ::' :>:1r ><? >:> »-: �:-� .li - ;:;': �«.:?>>:%? ,, ... <br /> h kills in the Pamlico ::>:�.::> : <br /> .... and Neuse Rivers : r� .: ii'::.��. ::;;<::»::::::::g f ::i>: >:<:W <br /> ......... •........ •.••••.. over the ...:..�::: .:.: <br /> past ears.It is suspected OXIN >::> ::>::: >:: <br /> Y <br /> P } <br /> that phosphorus may help <br /> t o <br /> fuel ie <br /> fish-killing acon ::FIS H::;:;: : �:::.:; .;:.:;•.::.;:::: � ........:.:..:.:.: _ <br /> ;:; <: <br /> :' of this dinoflagellate. . :r;.>..;:::o:;•:•:i:••:<$:;:(i.:::>i::::�-:<;r5::•:::::?o-:i::o-;:i::. <br /> :< : .x•:2:::::....:::.::::-:: ;�:-;)>: ? ... !'.-::,::. .::>':: :. i . .::::::.";::ai:iii:`i:`>::$:ii ::i?.>::i:::. : ::> <br /> :i:i:'. <br /> ..Various finfish and ' ':: : .: .:.�::. � ::::' :::iii t^i> <::o vT :: :Ti` .... <br /> fish disease <br /> epidemics also <br /> >><:;:><:::i:::iii:::�::i:::< ...<;. ..�:.:;»:<::::<i:<<:::: .•- ::.::�::;.;i; <>.: <br /> have been reported in the <br /> Albe <br /> mar <br /> le-Paml' <br /> rco Y s t <br /> se <br /> m <br /> since ; <br /> •; the 19 Os. These drs- ::.:.,.■ <br /> eases include ulcerative dis- <br /> eases thataffect&Irish,shell „..,` , : AMOEBA <br /> disease that affects blue . R <br /> crabs <br /> and <br /> two <br /> oyster r d's- <br /> cysT Y <br /> di <br /> s- \ ...... <br /> Whine the causes of \SEDIMENT (RESTING) <br /> \\�\\\\\\� <br /> these diseases are not well ����� \ \ <br /> understood, the potential HOW THE TOXIC DINOFLAGELLATE TARGETS AND KILLS FISH <br /> for impact is considerable. Chemical cues from fish are thought to trigger the transformation of an <br /> ...... The impact of disease on ambush predator dinoflagellate from a resting cyst to a motile attack from <br /> oysters in recent years has which releases deadly toxins that kill fish. <br /> been severe. <br /> 9 <br />