Harmful Algal Bloom Research in the U.S. and Links to International Efforts

Robert Magnien and Alan Lewitus

NOAA, National Ocean ServiceNational Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research

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“research needed to develop and advance technologies for improving capabilities to forecast, predict, monitor, prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms and hypoxia”

Research should lead to regional management outcomes

Three programs authorized – ECOHAB, MERHAB, PCM

Reports to Congress Help Identify Need and Prioritize Research

shellfish toxicity human exposure drinking water contamination loss of aquaculture products excessive monitoring burden on state/local

agencies habitat-related impacts (e.g. living resource kills)

Pseudo-nitzschia

Karenia brevis

Microcystis aeruginosa

Alexandrium fundyense

Karlodinium veneficumProrocentrum minimumMicrocystis aeruginosa

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Gulf of Maine: Alexandrium red tide

Model output predicting Alexandrium abundance in the Gulf of Maine, Image: D.McGillicuddy, WHOI

ECOHAB Program: Ecology and Oceanography of HABs

(This was the prototype for international GEOHAB)

Forecast models are being developed to predict Gulf of Mainered tides (Alexandrium)seasonally and weekly

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Gulf of Mexico: Karenia brevis red tide

Pacific Northwest: Alexandrium and Pseudo-nitzschiablooms

Pacific Northwest: Alexandrium &

Pseudo-nitzschia

Gulf of Mexico: Karenia brevis

The MERHAB Program is designed to provide the resources that allow coastal managers to adopt new and more advanced technologies

PCM Program: Prevention, Control, and Mitigation of HABs

Phospotic/Clay Expt, Puget Sound, Washington

The PCM Program develops and demonstrates new technologies that can be used to prevent blooms from occurring, control blooms that occur and mitigate living resource or health impacts.

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commissision (IOC)

Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms : IPHAB

established to assess progress, decide on priorities, and identify funding or funding opportunities for

implementation of the IOC HAB Programme.

Chair: Robert Magnien (USA)

Vice-chair: Gires Usup (Malaysia)

IOC-XXVI 2011, Agenda item 7.6, IPHAB

Intergovernmental Panelon HAB

Task Team on Algal Taxonomy GEOHAB SSC (with SCOR)

WG on HAB Dynamics(with ICES)

Regional Group ANCA(IOCARIBE)

WG on Ballast of Ships and otherVectors (with ICES and IMO)

Regional Group FANSA(South America)

Task Team on Biotoxins

Task Team on Harmful Algae and Fish Kills

GEOHAB Core ResearchCommittees (5)

GEOHAB-IOCCGWorking Group

Task Team on HAB Data(HAIS, with IODE)

Regional Group HANA (North Africa)

Regional GroupWESTPAC-HAB (WESTPAC)

Through its working groups, task teams and regional groups the IOC HAB Programme directly engages close to 400 people. A community of 2000 people receives the printed version of ’Harmful Agae News’.

IOCHAB Programme structure

I, as chair of the IOC’s Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms, extend an invitation to China to become an active member of the Panel.

We would greatly welcome your participation in contributing to global cooperation on the research and management of Harmful Algal Blooms.

Thank you for your attention