Fish Kill Incidents and Harmful Algal Bloomsin Omani Waters

Red tide, one of the harmful algal blooms (HABs) is a natural ecological phenomenon and often this event is accompaniedby severe impacts on coastal resources, local economies, and public health. The occurrence of red tides has become more frequent in Omaniwaters in recent years. Some of them caused fish kill, damaged fishery resources and mariculture, threatened the marine environment andthe osmosis membranes of desalination plants. However, a number of them have been harmless. The most common dinoflagellate Noctilucascintillans is associated with the red tide events in Omani waters. Toxic species like Karenia selliformis, Prorocentrum arabianum, andTrichodesmium erythraeum have also been reported recently. Although red tides in Oman have been considered a consequence of upwellingin the summer season (May to September), recent phytoplankton outbreaks in Oman are not restricted to summer. Frequent algal bloomshave been reported during winter (December to March). HABs may have contributed to hypoxia and/or other negative ecological impacts.