CSCOR HAB Event Response Program
Description
With the U.S. facing impacts from harmful algae, State and Federal
managers are increasingly leading efforts to respond to major coastal
resource or public health impacts associated with harmful algae blooms.
NOAA has recognized a need to ensure that top harmful algal scientists
are available to support State and Federal response efforts. Involvement
of researchers is critical to ensure proper scientific documentation
of a HAB event and to assist managers determine whether animal disease
or mortality events are linked to HABs and whether algal toxins pose
human health risks.
NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR) is exploring
the extent of this need through a pilot project in partnership with
the National Office for Marine
Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms at Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, part of the Cooperative
Institute for Coastal Ocean Research (CICOR). This partnership,
supported by the CSCOR Monitoring and Event Response
for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) program, will coordinate technical
assistance from the research community in support of efforts to respond
to major coastal resource or human health impacts in which harmful algae
are implicated. This partnership will raise the visibility within the
research community of the need to support HAB event response and will
contribute to our understanding about these, as yet, unpredictable events.
Upon notification of an event that requires an unanticipated, immediate
HAB response, CSCOR will collaborate with the National Office to identify
the best available scientists or facilities to assist management officials,
and/or provide supplemental financial/ technical support to investigate
a unique event. A request for assistance may be initiated by scientists
or management officials. Since limited MERHAB funding is available,
only modest requests to help defray costs of immediate mobilization
of sampling, supplies, and analytical services will be considered. In
kind contributions from ongoing research or management efforts are encouraged
as part of the response. Further, due to limited resources CSCOR will
primarily support requests which address the following high priority
events:
Appearance of species, toxicity or harmful impacts which are
unusual or unique for a particular U.S. coastal region or which may
lead to new discoveries in HAB science. Focus should be on HABs that
pose threats to public health and/or economically vital resources.
Sudden or unexplained mortalities of seabirds, fish, or marine
mammals for which a HAB linkage is suspected but which requires confirmation
through additional sampling or observations.
HAB events with major management or resource impacts for which
additional data such as the size or extent of the outbreak, causative
species, hydrographic characteristics of the associated water mass will
be of use in subsequent management decisions.
Potential applicants should first contact Marc
Suddleson, MERHAB Manager or his colleague
Quay Dortch, ECOHAB
Coordinator, to discuss the event. They will consult with Dr. Donald
Anderson, Director of the National Office and other members of the HAB
community, as necessary, to determine a recommended course of action.
If through these initial contacts it is determined that there is a potential
for event response support the applicant will be asked to submit a formal
request to Marc Suddleson via the e-mail address below. Requests for
MERHAB response support should include a description of the event/impacts,
the need for urgency, the intended response plan, a curriculum vitae
for the principal, a listing of other managers or researchers involved,
and an explanation of assistance/support needed. If funds are requested,
a brief budget and budget justification must be included. CSCOR-funded
researchers should also indicate why supplemental support is needed.
Reporting important preliminary results to the MERHAB manager will be
required via e-mail during an approved response and a brief, written
final report will also be required. Due to current program funding and
staffing limitations, requests for assistance can only be considered
during normal working hours. For inquiries about this program or notification
of an event please contact Marc Suddleson or Quay Dortch via e-mail
at CSCOR.HAB_Event_Response@noaa.gov.
Last Updated:
June 2, 2004