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,
Initiating sessions on near real time HAB Observing and Early Warning Systems at forthcoming international and national science meetings such as the ISSHA International Conference on Harmful Algae, the ICES Annual Science Conference, US HAB Symposium and other relevant opportunities,
Invite the scientific community and stakeholders to contribute by identifying early warning research topics, 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,
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 and harmonization of key messages,
Work with the desalination industry and its academic partners to communicate capabilities for HAB EWS through scientific presentations, workshops or other activities. These systems could include in-situ HAB sensors as well as models, forecasts and remote sensing of blooms,
In 6 months develop a succinct list of challenges, objectives and actions with respect to the Task Team topic that will address the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development objectives and challenges and to present these at an IPHAB intersessional on-line consultation September 2021 with a view to formulate an IPHAB strategic framework for UN Decade initiatives,

Decides that the Task Team will comprise A. Duarte Silva (Portugal) Chair, B. Karlson (Sweden), J.Silke (Ireland), P. Mozetic (Slovenia), M. Broadwater (USA), C. McKenzie (Canada), D. Anderson (USA); G. Doucette (USA); L. Guzmán (Chile); J.L. Peña (Mexico); L.J. Naustvoll (Norway). The Task Team is supplemented by international advisors and experts 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 seafood sustainability,

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-XVI.

Contact:

Alexandra Duarte Silva, Phytoplankton Laboratory of the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere/ Portugal. E-mail: amsilva@ipma.pt