On December 6th, 2006, the 3rd in a series of workshops sponsored by the Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), brought together key members of the scientific, federal and management community to develop an implementation plan for transitioning tools and predictive models of toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) to an operational management capability. This transition plan is based on more than a decade of investment in regional ecosystem research focused on Alexandrium fundyense, the highly toxic algae capable of causing widespread economic, living resource, and human health impacts in the Gulf of Maine. The planned forecasting system will build upon the experiences gained in the development of the Gulf of Mexico HAB forecasting system now operational in NOAA. These efforts are mandated by the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act and the President's Ocean Action Plan. For more information, please contact Quay.Dortch@noaa.gov or Richard.stumpf@noaa.gov.
