Kareniaceae is an accepted marine family of relatively small, toxic, unarmored dinoflagellates belonging to the order Gymnodiniales.

[1][2] Species in the Kareniaceae clade often cause harmful discolored green algea blooms (HABs) that pose a safety and health risk to humans (H. sapiens) and the surrounding regions.

Such blooms also pose a risk to coastal aquaculture worldwide, especially in places like France, the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea.

[3][4] Species in this family produce neurotoxins like brevetoxins, which cause human shellfish poisoning (HSP), respiratory effects and mass fish death.

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