Azaspiracids are lipophilic marine biotoxins causing gastrointestinal symptoms similar to DSP toxins. Since 1995, azaspiracids have been encountered in Europe, Africa and more recently in North and South America and Japan. The biological primary producer remained undiscovered during many years and has now been identified as Azadinium spinosum. The organism was grown using K modified medium, at 18°C with a PFD of 200 μmol.m-2.s-1 and a photoperiod of 16L/8D. Batch cultures were carried out using 75mL and 10L flasks, while continuous cultures were produced in 100L chemostats. Cells were recovered using centrifugation or filtration. Different extraction solvents and procedures as well as evaporation modes were evaluated for yield. Quantitation was carried out using LC-MS-MS. A. spinosum had a maximum growth rate of 0.6 d-1 with K modified medium, and reached maximum cell concentration of 300000 cells.mL-1. Toxins were mostly intracellular, with 5 to 10% toxin in the culture medium. Analogues detected included AZA1, -2 and the methyl esters of AZA1 and -2, AZA1 being the predominant toxin
