1. Lessons Learned and Planning for Harmful Algal Blooms
August 24, 2016 Fish and Game Commission Meeting
Deborah Halberstadt
Deputy Secretary on Ocean and Coastal Policy Executive Director, Ocean Protection Council

2. Summary of 2015
Unprecedented HAB event: A west coast-wide Pseudo-nitzschia bloom resulted in some of the highest concentrations of domoic acid ever observed in CA. Combination of the “blob” and El Niño resulted in very warm temperatures—transition to La Niña in 2016.
Advisories and fishery closures: Domoic acid was observed in major commercial/ recreational fisheries (Dungeness crab, rock crab, anchovies, mussels, and razor clams) resulting in closures. Toxin saturated the food web, and accumulated in the benthic environment, leading to levels identified by the Dept. of Public Health to be above thresholds that are healthy for human consumption, lasting months after the bloom dissipated.

3. State agencies were successful in preventing human illness, however, the event resulted in extensive impacts and economic hardships on the commercial fishing and seafood industry.

4. California is Responding
Ocean Protection Council convened an Interagency HAB Task Force to:
Advance scientific understanding of HABs, led by Ocean Science Trust
Address questions on current HAB monitoring and seafood sampling practices
Convene Science Working Group
Create standard operating procedures across public health and fisheries management agencies
INTERAGENCY HAB TASK FORCE
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Fish and Game Commission
California Department of Public Health
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Ocean Protection Council

5. Advancing Science: Frequently Asked Questions: Harmful Algal Blooms and California Fisheries
August 2016
Addresses questions submitted by fishing industry, NGOs, HAB Task Force, Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Provides clarity on the State’s HAB monitoring and management, and seafood toxin sampling and testing protocols
Common set of info to support engaged conversations
Download the report:

6. OPC-SAT WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
Advancing Science: Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team Working Group
Developing scientific guidance Release date: September 2016
State of the science
Guidance on bolstering existing HAB and biotoxin monitoring in California
Addressing information needs and gaps between government and science
Longer-term science working group to be convened through 2017
OPC-SAT WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
Dr. Raphael Kudela UC Santa Cruz
Dr. William Cochlan SF State University
Dr. Dave Caron USC
Dr. Gregg Langlois CA Dept. of Public Health (retired)

7. Communicating and Collaborating Broadly
Outreach with fishermen, legislature, Commission, etc.
July 29 Public Call on FAQ document
JFAC hearings and OPC meetings
Beginning work with the Governor’s office on HAB (freshwater and marine) coordination Administration-wide
Join upcoming discussions:
Dungeness Crab Task Force Executive Committee call August 26th
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture hearing early October

8. Current Status and Outlook for 2016
Conditions are similar, but cooler, than 2015—conducive to bloom events, but probably not a west-coast wide event
Bloom/toxins started later in the year, have been slowly building. Evidence for subsurface accumulation of toxin (Trinidad, Santa Barbara)
Yesterday, CDPH issued a warning for rock crabs and bivalve shellfish in state waters south of around Pigeon Point and north of around Cypress Point in Monterey County
Observations and models suggest patchy, high-toxin regions that could accumulate (locally) in crabs and other organisms but not as widespread as 2015
Credit: Raphael Kudela, UC Santa Cruz, Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture Hearing, August 10, 2016

9. Thank you