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Abstract
Surveys of phytoplankton populations over a 3‐year period within the Marlborough Sounds revealed numerous dinoflagellate species that are common elsewhere in temperate coastal environments. However, none that have been implicated as the cause of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were observed. Likewise, a total of 71 samples of cultivated mussles (Perna canaliculus) from farms within Pelorus Sound, Kenepuru Sound, and Port Underwood were tested by mouse bioassay with negative results (< 40 μg/100 g). Although environmental conditions within the Sounds are suitable for the establishment of dinoflagellate dominated blooms, PSP does not occur. This could be because causative species are absent altogether, or because they are very rare, poor competitors with other species, or have so far gone undetected.
