Development and Implementation of a U.S. Program in Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae

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9321244 Anderson Marine biotoxins and harmful algae represents a significant and expanding threat to human health and fisheries resources throughout the United States. This problem takes many forms, ranging from massive "red tides" or blooms of cells that discolor the water to dilute, inconspicuous concentrations of cells noticed only because of the harm caused by the highly potent toxins contained in those cells. Impacts include mass moralities of wild and farmed fish, human intoxication's and death from contaminated shellfish or fish, alterations of marine trophic structure, and death from marine mammals, seabirds, and other animals. The nature and extent of the problem has increased considerably over the last two decades in the United States, but unfortunately, our national research, monitoring, and regulatory infrastructure is not adequately prepared to meet this expanding threat. To alleviate this problem, national and international efforts underway to develop and implement science programs to deal with the many complex issues that are involved. This proposal seeks funds from NOAA and NSF for the P.I. to assist in the development and coordination of these activities. This will involve continued participation as the U.S. representative at international workshops and study groups convened by ICES, IOC, WESTPAC and SCOR. Within the United States, activities will include planning and advisory activities in support of an Ad Hoc Interagency Task Force on Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae, compilation of bloom reports through the ICES Coordinating Center for the Exchange of Information on Exceptional algal Blooms, and the organization of a workshop to formulate a detailed science plan for research on the ecology and oceanography of harmful algal blooms.