About the U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms

The Harmful Algae web page is maintained by the U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) with funding from NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), fulfilling the requirement of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (1998, reauthorized 2004, 2014, 2019) to improve communications and coordination.

The National Office serves as a “clearinghouse” for information related to national and international activities on HAB issues. One of its primary roles is to assist the HAB community in conducting an integrated, national HAB research agenda based on evaluations of current research efforts, workshop activities, and ongoing Federal and state agency efforts to prevent, control, and mitigate HABs. In addition, the National Office serves as a focal point for HAB research and information by organizing and providing for scientific community access to the latest research developments, workshop reports, research strategies, and related data and information. The primary objective of the Office is to facilitate an open exchange of scientific information and advance the state of knowledge and research efforts. The National Office coordinates the interests of, and fosters collaboration among, the many stakeholders in HAB research and mitigation, including Federal agencies, the academic research community, and regional and local resource managers. 

Acknowledgements

The original Harmful Algae webpage was created in 1997 under the direction of Don Anderson, and is currently maintained by Mindy Richlen, Victoria Uva, and Kali Horn. We thank Evie Fachon and Victoria Uva for their efforts in developing and updating content for this website.  We also thank WHOI's Graphics Department and web development group (particularly Katherine Joyce, Dina Pandya, and Natalie Renier) for their considerable help and guidance.  Finally, we are very grateful to the many individuals in the HAB community who have sent us images or provided content for these pages.  Thank you!