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Harmful Algal Blooms
Harmful algal blooms (or HABs) present one of the most scientifically complex and economically significant coastal management issues facing the nation today. In the past, only a few regions of the U.S. were affected by these harmful algal blooms, but now all U.S. coastal regions have reported major blooms. These phenomena have devastating environmental, economic, and human health impacts. The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) recognizes the significance of HABs and calls for research to advance scientific understanding and our ability to detect, assess, predict, control, and mitigate events. CSCOR HAB programs are advancing the state of the science by supporting interdisciplinary research studies to address HAB issues in an ecosystem context ... More
Current Research Programs
- Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB)
- Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB)
- CSCOR Harmful Algal Bloom Event Response Program
To search all CSCOR HAB-related projects go to NCCOS' Project Explorer and search under Extreme Events
Past Programs
HAB Ecological Forecasting
Ecological forecasts are one type of integrative HAB research product that can help managers mitigate bloom events and reduce bloom impacts on coastal resources and economies. More
- NOAA's HAB Forecasting System in the Gulf of Mexico is one example of a collaborative effort that integrates data from different sources to supply information on the location, extent, and potential for development or movement of harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Operational demonstrations of biological/physical models for Alexandrium in the Gulf of Maine (New England Red Tide) have helped managers identify areas where sampling was most critical, allowing protection of human health while minimizing impacts on fisherman. Click here to see an article in WHOI’s Oceanus magazine on the model .
Human Dimensions
Some HABs present a significant threat to public health due to the toxins they produce. Closure of beaches and fisheries to protect public health can cause disruption of subsistence activities, loss of community identity tied to coastal resource use, disruption of cultural harvesting practices, social disruption for affected families and communities, and substantial lost revenue for economies dependent on seafood harvest or tourism. Reducing these impacts requires research to improve risk communication, to assess sociocultural and economic impacts, and to develop effective management strategies. More
Accomplishments
CSCOR is leading NOAA's effort to support research to understand how, when, and why blooms occur in an effort to develop better methods of detecting and predicting blooms, and to find ways to reduce or prevent impacts on humans, coastal economies, and ecosystems. More
Related News
- CSCOR Initiates Project to Protect Coastal Oregon Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms (October 2007)
- CSCOR Facilitates Technology Transfer and Education at U.S. HAB Symposium (September 2007)
- Interagency Report Calls for Improved Research on Prediction and Response (September 2007)
Upcoming Workshops & Meetings
- Fourth Symposium on Harmful Algae in the U.S.,Woods Hole, MA, October 29, 2007 - November 1, 2007.
Related Links
- Legislation
- Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA 2004)
- HABHRCA 2004 Reports (Click here for details)
- Reports and Plans
- Links for more NOAA HAB Research
- Links for Current HAB Events or Shellfish Closures by State
- Regional Information on CSCOR HAB Programs
- General Information on HABs and HAB toxins:
- National Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms — The Harmful Algae Page
- Bigelow Laboratory — Toxic and Harmful Algal Blooms: What you can't see can hurt you
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center — Harmful
Algal Bloom and Marine Biotoxins Page