In this project, marine water collected from the HAB in South Australia will be sent to the PI at the University of Technology Sydney, and will be used to isolate and culture strains of Karenia species into clean, unialgal cultures. Samples from the HAB previously sent to the PI over the past month will be examined, and if Karenia is present and still alive, it will be isolated into uni-algal culture. Cultured strains will be identified using molecular genetic methods.

The purpose of obtaining unialgal strains of Karenia species from this HAB is:
- The identification of the species responsible for toxic effects and brevetoxin production;
- To allow for the development of rapid, early warning molecular detection assays such as qPCR (ie similar to COVID detection);
- To enable future toxin uptake rates and mechanisms into commercial seafood to be experimentally examined, to understand brevetoxin threats to seafood.

Timely action is essential, as the duration of the HAB in South Australia is unpredictable, and the opportunity to collect representative samples may be brief. Microalgal samples commonly die after periods of weeks, even if kept at constant temperature and light conditions, and provided with the optimal media for growth. The only means to maintain Karenia strains alive over the long term, is to isolate and purify them into culture conditions in which they can be maintained indefinitely.

There are few people in Australia with the skills to isolate new strains of single-celled marine algae to allow them to grow in culture. The work involved is painstaking and time consuming. Hence, the research described in this proposal is both highly specialised and time critical. It is necessary in order that a full analysis of the reasons for and impacts of the South Australian HAB can be understood, and risks from it be minimised for all seafood industries in Australia in future.

This work does not duplicate other research or sampling conducted to date on the HAB. To date, no attempts at Karenia strain isolation have occurred elsewhere in Australia. This project complements work by SARDI/PIRSA who are documenting the extent of chlorophyll a in the waters off South Australia using remote sensing, as a proxy marker, (although chlorophyll a includes other microalgae, not only Karenia); and the work of Clinton Wilkinson from the South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (SASQAAC), who are conducting routine brevetoxin testing on South Australian commercial oysters and routine microalgal cell counts on water samples. Other marine scientists are collecting dead fish and documenting marine ecosystem impacts of the HAB.

Activities external to ISS25:
1) Full day workshop and cultural exchange (local food shared, cultural artefact/gift exchange ceremony, networking event) exclusive to Indigenous delegates (and other First Nations not attending the symposium) and hosted by local Songhees Nation (confirmed);
2) Opportunity for local site visits to Songhees and neighbouring First Nations working with seaweed and coastal remediation;
3) Opportunity to visit Indigenous Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences on Vancouver Island;
4) Final day debrief and report writing including the opportunity to develop an International Indigenous Seaweed Declaration to provide to the United Nations (currently in discussion with IAC).

Activities within ISS25:
1) Opening and welcome ceremony with Songhees Nation and international scientific phycology community networking event;
2) Brad will co-chair full day of Indigenous presentations alongside Native Hawaiian colleague;
3) Participate in presentations from international First Nations working within the seaweed industry as part of our Indigenous mini-symposium;
4) Exclusive First Nations evening dinner event midway through conference (confirmed with IAC);
5) Seaweed field trips to locations (non-Indigenous specific) on Vancouver Island with other delegates;
6) Full conference attendance to benefit from the entire range of presentations/workshops across the International Seaweed Industry;
7) Closing ceremony

Immediate benefits to other attendees include exposure to traditional knowledges shared by members of our Indigenous delegation, creating space for knowledge exchange between traditional and modern sciences. The large presence of Indigenous delegates also presents immediate and future benefits to our First Nations cohort via the development of our Indigenous seaweed collective, strengthening our capacity to be leaders in the industry. The global seaweed industry can benefit immensely from more meaningful engagement with First Nations people worldwide, beginning by building mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous people built on trust. Large international symposiums like the ISS provide a platform for these relationships to form. Future benefits to the Australian Indigenous seaweed industry will result from this symposium, such as a strengthened network between Australian First Nations delegates attending, global relationships built with other Indigenous and non-Indigenous delegates, global visibility as Indigenous leaders in seaweed research. Immediate and long-term benefits to the Australian seaweed industry will result from our engagement with current international RD&E in the global seaweed industry, bringing knowledge back to Australia via our own practices and published industry report.