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Northeast Harmful Algal Blooms

Sea Level Rise

The microscopic alga, Alexandrium, blooms in New England waters every year and produces a potent toxin that accumulates in shellfish and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in human consumers. In 2005 the New England region suffered its most extensive “New England Red Tide” in 30 years.  Harvesting areas were closed from Maine to Massachusetts, which resulted in a NOAA-declared fisheries failure and regional economic impacts of about $23 million. Some fisheries such as roe-on scallop, are permanently closed due to PSP toxicity, resulting in millions of dollars of lost revenue.  Other harmful algae that occur in the region include organisms that cause fish kills or harm the environment through excessive growth.  For example, Brown Tides caused by the organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens, have caused problems in estuaries along the east coast since the mid 1980’s.

In the northeast, NOAA supports multi-year, interdisciplinary research studies to address the issues of HABs in an ecosystem context. Working closely with our federal, state, and academic partners, NOAA has 1) investigated the factors that regulate the dynamics of HABs and how they cause harm; 2) developed linked bio-physical models that form a critical base for building ecological forecasts; and 3) applied molecular methods and bio-chemical analysis to the detection and tracking of algal species and their toxins. Through these efforts NOAA has made considerable progress in the ability to detect, monitor, assess, and predict HAB events.  The first annual forecast was issued in 2008 and accurately predicted the larger than normal Red Tide event for that year.