Ambon, Aug. 12 -- A professor from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of Pattimura University (Unpatti) is studying the impact of the proliferation of phytoplanktons, or harmful algal blooms (HABs), on the sustainability of fisheries in Maluku.

"HABs have a broad impact on marine ecology, the economy, and the health of coastal communities," Professor of Aquatic Productivity, Frederika S. Pello, informed in Ambon on Tuesday.

HABs occur when certain phytoplankton populations grow rapidly and produce toxins that can trigger mass die-offs of marine life, damage the respiratory systems of fish, cause nerve paralysis, and lead to the loss of key species in the ecosystem chain.

Their direct effects include declining catch volumes, di...