The IOC/WESTPAC Workshop on“Enhance the awareness on toxic marine organisms”was held at Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam from 13 to 15 December 2010. 14people from 8 countries including China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, participated in the workshop.

   The workshop focused on (1) exchange current information on the poisonings due to the consumption of seafood contaminated with natural toxins in member states (2) to analyze the features of poisonings from various viewpoints such as causative organisms and toxins, their distribution, frequency of occurrence, medical treatment and prevention measures, (3) prepare appropriate outreach materials on the toxic marine organisms and discuss the future activities to be carried out in the next year. All participants presented their country report on current situation of seafood poisonings.

   In addition, series of lectures on toxins and toxic organisms causing food poisonings, experience of management of seafood poisoning and HABs and its implication to food poisonings were carried out. Discussion on the detailed work plan and awareness enhancing materials was also carried out with active inputs from the participants of the workshop.