IPHAB Task Team on the Early Detection, Warning and forecasting or harmful algal events

IPHAB Task Team on the Early Detection, Warning and Forecasting or Harmful Algal Events

Terms of Reference:

Serve as a strategic and advisory group for the establishment of guidelines, recommendations, and advancement of Early Warning Systems, ensuring the alignment with UN Ocean Decade challenges, objectives and actions,
Interact with HAB working groups and committees (e.g. ICES -IOC/WGHABD, PICES, IOC/FANSA, IOC/HANA, IOCARIBE/ANCA, IOC/WESTPAC-HAB) in the development of regional EWS and in the standardization of alerts, harmonization of key messages and initiating sessions on near real time HAB Observing and Early Warning Systems at forthcoming international and national science meetings (e.g. ISSHA, U.S HAB Symposium),
Invite the scientific community and stakeholders, e.g. from the desalination industry, to contribute by identifying early warning research topics, assessment of capabilities, seeking for transformative solutions, promoting strategies for engagement, and communicating scientific information to policy makers, managers and other end-users,
Promote the presence of HAB observations in the IOC Global Ocean Observing System and its regional components such as USA-IOOS and EuroGOOS, and the consolidation of integrated multi-hazard Early Warning Systems that employ scalable and affordable HAB technologies and methodologies for the continuous monitoring of coastal and ocean ecosystems;

Decides also that the Task Team will comprise A. Duarte Silva (Portugal) Chair, B. Karlson (Sweden), D. Clarke (WGHABD/Ireland), P. Mozetic (Slovenia), M. Broadwater (USA), C. McKenzie (Canada), D. Anderson (USA); L. Guzmán (Chile); J.L. Peña (Mexico); L.J. Naustvoll (Norway). The Task Team is supplemented by international advisors and experts Greg Doucette (USA), A. T. Yñiguez (Philippines), M. J. Botelho (Portugal) and M.Y. Dechraoui Bottein (Morocco) and may be expanded as required to fulfil the Terms of Reference;

Urges that the relevant Member State agencies support the implementation of EWS for HABs, through funding the system development and implementation, in order to reduce the economic, social and risk of human health impacts associated with sustainable production of safe seafood;

Invites IAEA and WHO to support the activities of the Task Team,

Encourages Member States to assist in providing funding for the development of early warning systems and for dissemination activities,

Notes that the Task Team will work until otherwise decided by the Panel, and that it will work by correspondence and/or meet on an opportunistic basis and provide a progress report to the Chair of IPHAB prior to IPHAB-XVII.