Judith L. Kleindinst and Donald M. Anderson, Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Abstract:

An important aspect of harmful algal bloom (HAB) management is the dissemination of information. This may be among managers, between managers and the public, or among managers, the public and researchers. The internet can be an important tool in this process. This talk will highlight several websites and internet tools that have very different communication objectives.

The Harmful Algae webpage (http://www.redtide.whoi.edu/hab) maintained by the U.S. National Office for Harmful Algae and Marine Biotoxins seeks to provide a comprehensive resource for many different user groups, including the general public, scientists, and managers. It provides details about different HAB phenomena; human health problems associated with HABs, including information on diagnosis and treatment; news articles; funding and other important announcements; and copies of several science plans and other resource materials.

Another website maintained by the National Office (http://www.redtide.whoi.edu/pfiesteria) has a very different purpose - mainly to be a technical repository for use by federal and state agencies and individuals involved in monitoring for Pfiesteria-like organisms. The webpage includes archives of analytical and monitoring protocols, workshop reports, reference lists, fact sheets, etc.

Another communication tool used in the U.S. is a listserver, allowing rapid communication among subscribers about a particular topic. These can be restricted to particular individuals (e.g. the Pfiesteria Working Group listserver) or open to all subscribers (e.g. Phycotoxins). Either type can be very useful when dealing withHAB events.

This talk will describe these internet-based communication tools and highlight their benefits as well as the difficulties, both technical and political, involved in establishing and maintaining them.