HABHRCA Report and Webinar on Federal Agency Actions for Managing HABs and Hypoxia
The Interagency Working Group on the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (IWG-HABHRCA) has released its report entitled, “Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia: A Comprehensive Research Plan and Action Strategy.” The report was written in response to the HABHRCA legislative requirements and outlines Federal agencies’ roles, responsibilities, and successes for evaluating and managing HABs and hypoxia. The report incorporates contributions from many stakeholders (including state governments) to ensure that the recommendations align closely with and deliver products that address stakeholder needs. The chief recommendations of this report include the following:
- Add to and improve scientific understanding of HABs and hypoxia, and their causes and effects, as well as improve testing and research methods.
- Strengthen and integrate new and existing monitoring programs.
- Improve predictive capabilities by developing and enhancing HAB and hypoxia modeling programs; improve disease surveillance for human and animal exposure, illnesses, and death.
- Improve stakeholder communications, including having more effective and readily-available public advisories, stronger connections with susceptible communities, and a better understanding of the socioeconomic and health-related impacts of HABs and hypoxia.
- Continue and expand collaborations in research, management, and policy-related arenas.
To read the report, visit the web site HERE. A blog post about the report is also available HERE.
Webinar on March 23rd: The IWG-HABHRCA will hold an official roll-out webinar on March 23, 2016, at 2:00pm (eastern). During the webinar, contributors will discuss the recommendations and next steps for the group. Please register by emailing Caitlin Gould of EPA at caitlin.gould@noaa.gov, by no later than 5:00pm (eastern) on March 22nd.
