The Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network announced the release of a new informational video that provides insight into harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their impacts across Alaska. The video, now available on YouTube, offers a comprehensive overview of HABs, highlighting the challenges they pose, the collaborative efforts to understand and address them, and the resources available to support affected communities.
As the climate continues to change and waters warm, the frequency of harmful algal bloom events is likely to increase. The AHAB Network hopes the video will serve as an educational resource for anyone impacted by harmful algal blooms or seeking to learn more about this pressing issue.
“In Alaska, citizen science plays a really important role in harmful algal bloom monitoring and research, and that’s because we have such a large coastline, a lot of remote locations, and it’s very difficult to get research out there on an expansive scale,” said AHAB Network coordinator Thomas Farrugia in the video.
Farrugia explained that the AHAB Network serves as a platform for communication, data sharing, and fostering collaborations and partnerships. The network aims to maximize the impact of funding brought into the state for addressing harmful algal blooms. Regional tribal laboratories, such as the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute in Seward and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, test shellfish for toxins in a timely manner. This is crucial because there is no state-run program to test for toxins in subsistence resources.
The video features footage and commentary from numerous individuals and organizations working to mitigate the effects of HABs, protect public health, and preserve Alaska’s ecosystems. Contributors include Don Anderson from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Kathi Lefebvre from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Kris Holdereid from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Maile Branson and Annette Jarosz from Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute.
For more information on the AHAB Network, contact Thomas Farrugia at farrugia@aoos.org or visit https://ahab.aoos.org/