U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms Releases National Science Strategy for Harmful Algal Research and Response
The U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has released a comprehensive national science strategy outlining a decade-long roadmap aimed at enhancing our understanding, monitoring, and management of HABs. “HARRNESS 2024-2034: Harmful Algal Research and Response, A National Environmental Science Strategy” defines the magnitude, scope, and diversity of the HAB problem in United States’ marine, brackish and freshwaters; addresses knowledge gaps; strengthens coordination among agencies, stakeholders, and partners; advances the development of effective research and management solutions; and builds resilience to address the broad range of HAB impacts to vulnerable communities and ecosystems in the USA.
The science strategy is structured around four main themes: 1) HAB observing systems and modeling, 2) HAB detection and ecological impacts, 3) HAB management, and 4) the human dimensions of HABs, including socioeconomics and education. Each theme covers the current scientific and technological landscape, identifies remaining knowledge gaps, and offers future recommendations to advance research, monitoring, and management of HABs.
The science strategy was created by a 26-member Scientific Steering Committee, with additional input from 35 contributors and reviewers from academia, federal and state agencies, institutions, industry, the non-profit sector, consulting firms, and tribal organizations. The new report replaces the outdated, but successful, initial report, HARRNESS 2005 – 2015.
There have been significant advances made in the last two decades, such as improved understanding of bloom dynamics of large-scale regional HABs including Pseudo-nitzschia on the west coast, Alexandrium on the east coast, Karenia on the west Florida shelf, and Microcystis in Lake Erie. The new science strategy also outlines advances in HAB sensor technology, which facilitate deployment on fixed and mobile platforms for long-term, continuous, remote HAB cell and toxin observations. A section on freshwater HABs and impacts is also covered in the new strategy.
HARRNESS 2024-2034 is available on the U.S. National HAB Office website: https://hab.whoi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HARRNESS-2024-online-1.pdf
The full press release is available here: https://www.whoi.edu/press-room/news-release/habs-report-2023/