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Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Blooms
program
Highlights
There are a number of HAB issues in the Gulf of Mexico Region, but the most problematic and well-known is Florida Red Tide, caused by blooms of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Karenia produces potent toxins that can cause human respiratory distress, toxic shellfish, animal mortality, and water discoloration. Blooms form in the Gulf of Mexico almost every year, most often off the west coast of Florida. They also occur, although less frequently, along the Texas and Mexican coasts and even less frequently off of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Other HAB issues in the region include macroalgal blooms that pile up and decompose along beaches, ciguatera fish poisoning, Texas brown tides, domoic acid-producing Pseudo-nitzschia, and the cyanobacteria Lyngbya, among others.
In the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA has supported multi-year, interdisciplinary research studies to address HABs. Investigations have explored the factors that regulate the dynamics of HABs and how they cause harm, developed models that contribute to HAB forecasts, and used satellites and ocean observing systems, molecular methods from medical science, and biochemical analyses for the detection and tracking of algal species and their toxins. For example, NOAA has issued a weekly HAB forecast that provides information on location, extent, and potential development of HABs in Florida since 2004 and is testing a similar forecast in Texas.