Olympic Region Harmful Algal Blooms

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PNW HAB Bulletin

pacific Northwest HAB Bulletin

 ORHAB provides beach and offshore data for the Pacific Northwest HAB Bulletin (PNW HAB) which provides an early warning of HABs to coastal shellfish managers. Data for the PNW HAB Bulletin, including abundance of the toxic diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia (PN) and the toxin, particulate domoic acid (pDA), are collected by ship from HAB hotspots, the Juan de Fuca Eddy and Heceta Bank, at beaches in Washington and Oregon, and from coastal moorings. The direction of Pseudo-nitzschia transport from the HAB hotspots to beaches depends upon coastal winds that promote upwelling or downwelling. Models will provide information about the location and intensity of the Columbia River plume (see figure above) that can act as a barrier or facilitator for HAB transport to beaches (see University of Washington Live Ocean Model). These Bulletins will allow coastal managers to better protect shellfish safety in the communities by opening selective beaches, collecting additional shellfish samples (Dungeness crab, clams, and mussels) for testing when needed, and providing advanced notice of HABs to the public.

Bulletins will be transitioned to operational status by 2021 and was identified as one of the highest priority projects through the NOAA Ecological Forecasting Initiative based on:

  • Needs expressed by stakeholders
  • Maturity of the science
  • National significance

Funding for the PNW HAB Bulletin is provided through U.S. IOOS for a National HAB Observing Network (NHABON), by the NCCOS Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) program, and with additional support from the Olympic Region HAB (ORHAB) partnership.

The PNW Bulletin was developed with more than 15 years of funding from the NOAA National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) sponsored research programs, Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) and Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB). Additional funding and support was provided by the National Science Foundation, ECOHAB program, NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative, the Centers for Disease Control, University of Washington, Washington State Department of Health, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Quinault Indian Nation, and Makah Tribe.

Click on the year to see PNW HAB Bulletins below.

2022
  • April 7, 2022
  • April 21, 2022
  • May 13, 2022
  • May 26, 2022
2021
  • April 11, 2021
  • April 21, 2021
  • May 9, 2021
  • May 20, 2021
  • June 7, 2021
  • September 12, 2021
  • September 27, 2021
2020
  • March 25, 2020
  • April 21, 2020
  • May 19, 2020
  • August 15, 2020
  • September 11, 2020
  • October 8, 2020
2019
  • March 18, 2019
  • March 28, 2019
  • April 14, 2019
  • May 12, 2019
  • August 29, 2019
  • Septeber 20, 2019
  • October 19, 2019
  • November 18, 2019
2018
  • March 14, 2018
  • April 13, 2018
  • May 10, 2018
  • May 24, 2018
  • September 3, 2018
  • September 20, 2018
  • October 4, 2018
  • October 18, 2018
2017
  • August 18, 2017
  • September 26, 2017
  • October 25, 2017

Archived bulletins from 2008-2011 can be found at this link: http://www.nanoos.org/products/habs/forecasts/bulletins.php

PNW HAB Bulletin partners:

http://www.nanoos.org/products/habs/forecasts/partners.php

Razor clammingon the WashingtonState coast USA_VeraTrainer
clams and shovel on beach 1
RazorClamsThatCanContainthe Toxin, Domoic Acid_WashingtonState coast, USA_VeraTrainer
clams and shovel on beach 4
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Recent HAB Bulletins

  • May 26, 2022
  • May 13, 2022
  • April 21, 2022
  • April 7, 2022
  • September 27, 2021
  • September 12, 2021
  • June 7, 2021
  • May 20, 2021
  • May 9, 2021
  • April 21, 2021
  • April 11, 2021
  • October 8, 2020
  • September 11, 2020
  • August 15, 2020
  • May 19, 2020
  • April 21, 2020
  • March 25, 2020

Media

The following media reports were made possible through collaboration with ORHAB:

  • —Harmful Algal Blooms – Early Warning Systems to the Rescue (FishSens Magazine, February 28, 2022)

  • –Washington’s razor clam season shut down by hazardous algal blooms
    (Crosscut, March 31, 2021)

  • –As Algae Blooms Increase, Scientists Seek Better Ways to Predict These Toxic Tides
    (Science News, 28 August 2018)

  • –HAB Forecast Gives Washington Confidence to Proceed with Razor  Clam Festival
    (NCCOS, 19 April 2018)

  • –Record-setting Razor Clam Harvest Aided by Pacific Northwest HAB Forecast
    (NCCOS, 20 June 2017)

  • –NOAA Funds Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast System Development in Pacific Northwest
    (NCCOS, 29 September 2016)

  • –UW Gets NOAA Grant to Begin Testing New Forecast for Toxic Shellfish
    (University of Washington, 29 September 2016)

 

Olympic Region Harmful Algal Blooms

P.O. Box 1628 Forks, WA 98331

orhab@uw.edu | 360-374-3220

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