Cyanobacteria identification, management focus of Aug. 18 webinar
AgriLife Extension program to educate on fish, livestock, wildlife, companion animal protection
Learn how to manage and identify harmful cyanobacteria blooms during an Aug. 18
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service webinar, “Management of Cyanobacteria Blooms to Protect Your Fish and Livestock.”
The event will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. and is a part of the agency’s AquaExtension Series.
The cost is $35, and registration is required at tx.ag/BlueGreenAlgae. Following registration, an email will be sent with instructions to access the webinar. All registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar, available for one month, even if they cannot attend live.
The event’s speaker is Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Bryan-College Station.
Understanding cyanobacteria and management options
Also known as blue-green algae, cyanobacteria blooms can produce toxins that are deadly to fish, livestock and other animals, including humans.
“Even at sub-lethal concentrations, cyanotoxins can severely impact livestock and fish production and cause long-term health issues,” Sink said.
The webinar will explore:
- Identification of cyanobacteria blooms and the toxins they produce.
- Signs and symptoms of toxin exposure in fish and livestock.
- Testing for cyanobacteria toxins.
- Preventative and reactive management options, including water detoxification.
“Cyanobacteria cause hundreds of fish kills and livestock deaths annually in Texas,” Sink said. “But with some simple observations and proactive management, you can manage and even prevent these issues before they occur to protect your animals.
“If we can help managers understand when a potential cyanobacteria problem may occur and teach them how to identify active blooms, then we can quickly assist them to implement corrective management before the water becomes toxic and puts their livestock or fish production at risk.”
A 30-minute question-and-answer session will be held at the end of the webinar.
Webinar package available for 2026
This webinar is supported by Syndel, an international organization specializing in high-quality aquatic animal health solutions for fish reproduction, disease prevention and treatment, and biosecurity. It is part of a 10-month expert series that provides pond owners and managers with up-to-date, scientific information related to maintaining pond health and productivity.
A 2026 Aquatic Webinar Series Bundle is available for $280 for individuals who would like to register for all webinars throughout the year. The bundle also includes recordings of the previous 2026 webinars. Purchase the webinar bundle at tx.ag/WebinarBundle26.
For more information, contact Brittany Chesser, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist at the Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, at [email protected].
