How changing oceans are affecting toxins in shellfish
Official title: Changing Oceans Affect Shellfish Toxins
Funded at Sitka Tribe of Alaska · NIH-11387540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project predicts when and where Alaska shellfish will carry dangerous paralytic toxins so coastal and tribal communities can harvest more safely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sitka Tribe of Alaska NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sitka, United States) |
| Project start | March 20, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $129,638 |
| NIH project number | 5P01ES035551-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are coastal Alaska community members, especially Alaska Native shellfish harvesters, who can contribute local observations, samples, or traditional knowledge.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not eat or collect local shellfish or who live far from affected Alaska coasts are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers are working with Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research and local tribal partners to combine thousands of shellfish test results, environmental sensor data, satellite measurements, and traditional ecological knowledge. They will use machine learning and statistical models alongside lab analyses of specific toxin types to track how warming and ocean acidification change toxin production by Alexandrium algae. The team will map seasonal and location-specific patterns and develop forecasts of high-risk harvest periods. Findings will be shared with coastal communities to improve warnings and guidance for subsistence shellfish harvesters.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could provide clearer forecasts and guidance to help people avoid paralytic shellfish poisoning.
How similar studies have gone: Local and tribal monitoring programs have successfully detected harmful algal blooms before, but combining long-term community data with machine learning and congener-specific toxin analysis is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Sitka, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harley, John — Sitka Tribe of Alaska
- Study coordinator: Harley, John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Shellfish harvesting and eating in Gulf of Alaska communities
This project looks at how people in small Gulf of Alaska communities harvest and eat shellfish and how that relates to risks from paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
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Paralytic shellfish toxin monitoring and testing for Southeast Alaska
This project runs a Sitka lab that tests local shellfish for paralytic toxins and shares results to help Alaska tribal and coastal communities stay safe.
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Community outreach to prevent harmful shellfish toxin exposure
This program works with Alaska Native and coastal Gulf of Alaska communities to share culturally relevant information that helps people avoid shellfish toxin harms.
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Protecting Gulf of Alaska communities from shellfish toxins
This project combines shellfish toxin testing and community surveys to help reduce paralytic shellfish poisoning risk for coastal Alaska and Alaska Native residents.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.