Our ability to manage the Pacific coastal region
seafood harvest is dependent, in part, on our ability to assure
the safety of this harvest to human consumers. Our understanding
of factors contributing to harmful algal bloom (HAB) events is limited
by our access to comparative data from similar coastlines that face
the same challenges from harmful biotoxins. A free flow of information
to all interested investigators is vital in planning experiments,
analyzing data, modeling HABs, and in putting together the broad
picture of the relationship between biological, physical and chemical
factors that influence the development of blooms in Pacific coastal
regions. It is also critical to improve forecasting of future bloom
events and protection of coastal fisheries in all PICES member countries.
However, the historical data sets available for analysis of coastal
HAB events are widely dispersed among the various agencies responsible
for monitoring biotoxin events. These data exist in various degrees
of processing, quality assurance, and public availability, and much
of the available data (e.g. on phytoplankton assemblage characteristics)
are in forms that are difficult to use. Through this data harmonization
workshop scientists and resource managers will look at and discuss
the interest of PICES member countries in the establishment of a
common database. Mechanisms for integration of the ICES and PICES
harmful algal bloom databases will be also examined. This database
project could be the subject of a new PICES Working Group on HABs.
Publications
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