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Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team Working Group:
Harmful Algal Blooms and California Fisheries
CaliforniaOceanScienceTrust,July2016
Overview
In2015and2016,elevatedlevelsofdomoicacidwereobservedinmajorcommercialandrecreationalshellfisheriesin
California,includingDungenesscrab,rockcrab,andrazorclams,leadingtohealthadvisoriesandfisheryclosuresduring
the2015/16season.GivenCalifornia’schangingoceanconditionsandincreasingthreatstocoastaleconomies,theState
isinterestedinexploringopportunitiestobolsteritsexistingseafoodbiotoxinsamplingandharmfulalgalbloom(HAB)
monitoringprograms,aswellasadvanceourunderstandingandabilitytopredictHABeventsandmitigatefishery
impacts.
Inresponsetotheseevents,theCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncil(OPC)1andtheInteragencyMarineHarmfulAlgal
BloomTaskForce(TaskForce)2haveaskedCaliforniaOceanScienceTrusttobothleadthedevelopmentofanFAQ
documentaswellasconveneanOPCScienceAdvisoryTeam(SAT)workinggroupto:
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ExplorethesciencesupportingCalifornia’sexistingHABandbiotoxinmonitoringinthemarineenvironment
alongthecoastofCalifornia;and
Providescientificguidanceonhowtoaddcapacityandsupportstateneeds,asdescribedbelow.
Goals
OceanScienceTrustrecognizestheimportanceofthisinformationtomanygroups-consumers,membersofthefishing
industry,NGOs,andCaliforniaStateAgenciesandLegislature.Intheshortterm,OceanScienceTrustandtheSAT
workinggroupwillprovideclarityonsomeofthesciencebeingutilizedintheState’scurrentHABmonitoringand
biotoxinsamplingprotocols.Additionally,overthecourseofthenextyear,theSATworkinggroupwillprovidelongertermrecommendationsthatcanhelpStateagenciesandtheLegislatureprioritizefutureactions,andinformfuturework
focusedonbetterunderstandingandpredictingfisheryandhumanhealthimpactsrelatedtoHABs.
Products
Timeline: June - September 2016
Twoproductswillbemadepubliclyavailableuponcompletion:
1. A“FrequentlyAskedQuestions”(FAQ)document.Becauseofouruniqueroleasaboundaryorganization,
OceanScienceTrustwasaskedtodevelopanFAQdocumentbasedonquestionssubmittedbyfishing
leadership,agencies,managers/regulators,andothers.Manyofthesequestionsoriginatedduringpublic
comment,email,orphonecallsfromconstituentstoagencyorlegislativestaff.TheFAQwillclearlyexplain
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FundingforthisprojectwasprovidedbytheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncil
TheInteragencyHABTaskForcemembershipincludesrepresentativesfromCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth,CaliforniaFishandGame
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Commission,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife,OceanProtectionCouncil,andtheOfficeofEnvironmentalHealthandHazardAssessment.
TheInteragencyHABTaskForcemembershipincludesrepresentativesfromCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth,CaliforniaFishandGame
Commission,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife,OceanProtectionCouncil,andtheOfficeofEnvironmentalHealthandHazardAssessment.
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California’scurrentHABmonitoringandbiotoxinsamplingefforts,howitcomparestootherStatesand
countries,andwherepossible,thescientificrationalebehindtheprotocols.Thisdocumentwillsynthesize
informationonfourtopicalareas:
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HABsandseafoodtoxinmonitoringeffortsinCalifornia
DomoicacidandCaliforniafisheries
Humanhealthandseafoodsafetyconcerns
California’sfisheryandseafoodtoxinmanagement
OceanScienceTrustwillprepareresponsestothequestionsbasedonexistingscientificliteratureand
consultationwithrepresentativesfromtheTaskForce,SATworkinggroupmembers,andadditionalscientific
experts(universityresearchers,andstateandfederalagencyscientists).ThisFAQwillprioritizeaddressing
questionsthatdonotrequireadditionalresearch.
TargetReleasedate:August5,2016
2. ScientificGuidanceDocument.TheSATworkinggroup,OceanScienceTrust,willdevelopscientificguidanceand
optionsforunderstandingHABeventsinCalifornia,theirimpactonfisheries,andaddingcapacitytotheState’s
existingHABmonitoringandsamplingeffortstobetterrespondtoHABeventsinthefuture.Thisdocumentwill
addressthefollowingtopics:
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StateoftheScienceonWestCoastHABs.ThisgroupwilllayoutthelatestscientificthinkingaboutHAB
eventsalongourcoastlineandbegintoidentifyadditionalcapacitywithinthescientificcommunity.
GuidanceonbolsteringexistingHABandbiotoxinmonitoringinCalifornia.Theworkinggroupwillexplore
optionstobolsterCalifornia’sexistingmonitoringandsamplingprotocol,includingidentifyingadditional
capacity,tools,datasetsandonlinenetworksthattheStatemaydrawfrom.Thegroupwillalsodiscuss
emergingtoxinsandHABspecies,aswellasotherimpactedspeciesorhabitatsthattheStateshouldbe
thinkingaboutgoingforward.
Lookingforward:Addressinginformationneedsandgapsbetweengovernmentandscience.Thegroupwill
beginexploringhowwecanbetterlinkindependentscienceandtheneedsofCaliforniamanagers.Howcan
theStateutilizepredictivemodelingeffortsandmoveawayfrombeingreactionary?Whatareexisting
knowledgegapsandscienceneeds?Howdocurrentmodelingeffortsconsideradditionalstressorsof
interesttotheregion,suchasoceanacidificationandhypoxia?
TargetReleasedate:September30,2016.TheworkinggroupproductwillbefinalizedaftertheAugust10,2016
JointCommitteeonFisheriesandAquaculturehearingtoallowforanyappropriatechangesorfeedbackfrom
thisengagementtobeincorporated.
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SAT Working Group: Structure of Membership
ThisSATworkinggroupwasestablishedbysolicitingnominationsfromOPC-SATmembersandtheInteragencyHABTask
Force.Workinggroupmembershaveexperienceinthefollowingfields:ecologyandphysiologyofphytoplankton(witha
focusonHABs),biologicaloceanography,biotoxins,andmodeling.Membershipalsoincludesanagencyscientistwith
intimateknowledgeoftheState’scurrentHABsamplingandbiotoxintestingprotocols.Collaboratorsareindividuals
whoinformedproductdevelopmentorprovidedadditionalinputorreview.Workinggroupmembershipandshortbios
areprovidedbelow.
Dr.DaveCaron
ProfessorofBiologicalSciences,UniversityofSouthernCalifornia
Dr.Caron’sresearchfocusesonmarineandfreshwatermicrobialecology,withemphasison
thetrophicrelationshipsbetweenprotists(microalgaeandprotozoa)andotherplanktonic
andbenthicmicroorganisms.Recentresearchprogramshavefocusedonthedistribution,
feedingecology,respirationandnutrientregenerationofbacterivorousandherbivorous
protozoa,theecologyofharmfulalgae,thephysiologyofAntarcticprotists,feedingandgrowthofphagotrophic
(mixotrophic)microalgae,andthedevelopmentofmolecularbiologicalapproachesforstudyingtheecologyoffreelivingmicroorganisms.
Dr.WIlliamCochlan
SeniorResearchScientist,RombergTiburonCenterforEnvironmentalStudies,SanFrancisco
StateUniversity
Dr.Cochlancurrentlyheadsabiologicaloceanography/marinemicrobialecologyresearch
laboratoryattheRombergTiburonCenter,SanFranciscoStateUniversity.Hisresearchis
centeredontheutilizationanddynamicsofmacro-andmicro-nutrients,andtheireffectson
marinephytoplanktonandheterotrophicbacteriaincoastalandoceanicenvironments.His
oceanacidificationandHABresearchprojectsarelaboratoryandfield-basedefforts.
Dr.RapheKudela
Professor,OceanSciencesDepartment,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz
Dr.Kudelaisaphytoplanktonecologistwhoseekstounderstandthefundamentalquestion:
whatcontrolsphytoplanktongrowthanddistributionintheocean.Morespecifically,howdo
themultipleinteractionsoflight,macro-andmicronutrientsandphytoplanktonphysiology
determinetherates,processes,andpatternsweobserveinthemarineenvironment?His
approachistocombineasuiteof3tools:(1)remotelysenseddatafrommooringsand
satellitesincombinationwithbiologicalmodels;(2)novelbio-opticalmethodsassaying
phytoplanktonphysiology;and(3)therefinementofstableandradio-tracerisotopes.
Dr.GreggLanglois
Dr.LangloisisaSeniorEnvironmentalScientistattheCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealthandamemberofthe
InteragencyMarineHABTaskForce.
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Collaborators
CollaboratorsareprovidingtheirexpertisetohelpanswerFAQresponsesandtheScientificGuidancedocument,where
appropriate.
RobertDickey,Director,UniversityofTexasMarineScienceInstituteChairman,DepartmentofMarineScience,
UniversityofTexasatAustin;formerlyDirector,FDAGulfCoastSeafoodLaboratoryandDivisionofSeafoodScienceand
Technology
KathiLefebvre,SupvyResearchBiologist,NOAAFisheriesNorthwestFisheriesScienceCenter
VeraTrainer,ProgramManager,HarmfulAlgalBloomsProgram,NOAAFisheriesNorthwestFisheriesScienceCenter
StaceyDegrasse,ScienceAdvisor,DivisionofSeafoodSafety,OfficeofFoodSafety,CenterforFoodSafetyandApplied
Nutrition,U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration
Opportunities for Engagement
TheTaskForce,SATworkinggroup,andOceanScienceTrustareinterestedingaininginsightsandguidancefromthe
fishingindustriesaffectedbyHABs.Todate,theOceanScienceTrusthasreceivedinitialresearchquestionsfromthe
DungenessCrabTaskForceExecutiveCommittee,theofficeofSenatorMcGuire,theTaskForce,CommercialFishermen
ofSantaBarbara,andothermembersoffishingindustries.Thesequestionswillinformtheshorttermproducts(i.e.,FAQ
andSATworkinggroupproduct).Questionssubmittedwillbeconsideredforbothshort-termandlong-termproducts,
basedonthefeasibilitytoanswerandtheexpertiseoftheSATworkinggroup.AnyquestionsnotaddressedintheshorttermwillbeloggedforconsiderationafterJulywhentheStateconsidersnextstepsformanagement,andidentifies
additionalscientificguidanceneeded.
Recognizingtheimportanceofthistopic,whilebeingmindfulofarelativelyshorttimeframetodeveloptheshortterm
informationalproducts,additionalopportunitiestoengagewithOceanScienceTrust,theSATworkinggroup,and/orkey
agencyrepresentatives:
Workinggroupinformationsharinganddiscussionopportunities:
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Publicconferencecall-Wednesday,July27,2016,10:00AM-11:00AM(PST)
Call-in Number: (218) 339-7800 | Access Code: 792 7150
JoinapublicconferencecallhostedbyOceanScienceTrust,moderatedbyStrategicEarth,featuringmembers
fromtheHABTaskForceandSATworkinggroup.Duringthiscall,participantswillshareinformationaboutthe
scientificprocessunderwayinCaliforniatobetterunderstandandaddressthedomoicacidandHABsituation
duringthe2015-2016commercialfishingseasonandgainanunderstandingofhowCaliforniafishingcommunities
wouldliketoengagedinthisprocess/conversation.
PublicWebinar-DateTBD
AttendawebinarwhereintheOceanScienceTrustwillshareFAQresponses,presentdraftSATworkinggroup
findings,andbeavailabletoanswerquestions.
In-personPublicRoundtable-DateTBD
AttendaroundtablediscussioninSacramento(date/timeTBD)tobeheldinadvanceoftheJointCommitteeon
FisheriesandAquaculturehearingonAugust10(seetimelinebelow).ThiswillofferanotheropportunityforOcean
ScienceTrustandworkinggroupmemberstopresentonthedraftfindingsandanswerquestions.
JointheOceanScienceTrustHABslistservtoreceiveupdatesabouttheFAQandscientificguidancedocument.
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Contact Information
QuestionsabouttheFAQandOPC-SATworkinggroupproductscanbesentto:
ErrinRamanujam
AssociateScientist,OceanScienceTrust
errin.ramanujam@calost.org
QuestionsabouttheInteragencyMarineHABTaskForce,orotherquestionsoutsidethescopeoftheFAQorscientific
guidancedocument,canbesentto:
JenniferPhillips
ProgramManager,OceanProtectionCouncil
jennifer.phillips@resources.ca.gov
About the Interagency HAB Task Force
TheInteragencyHABTaskForce(TaskForce)wasestablishedbytheOceanProtectionCouncilinearly2016.TaskForce
membersincludeSonkeMastrup(DepartmentofFishandWildlife),SusanAshcraft(FishandGameCommission),Pat
Kennelly(DepartmentofPublicHealth),GreggLanglois(DepartmentofPublicHealth),SusanKlasing(Officeof
EnvironmentalHealthHazardAssessment),ValerieTermini(FishandGameCommission),andJennPhillips(Ocean
ProtectionCouncil)
TheTaskForceprovidedmuchoftheframeworkandquestionsfortheworkinggrouptoaddresswiththeguidance
documentandtheFAQdocument.TheTaskForcewillreviewthescientificguidancedocumentandFAQdocument,and
bothoftheseproductswillprovidethebasisforcreatingaprocesstoaddressthelong-termquestionsoftheTaskForce.
Specifically,duringthewinterof2016-17theTaskForcewillhelpguidetheworkinggroupindevelopingalongerterm
managementdocumentaboutwhatinformationisneededandwhatinvestmentsareneededtohelptobetterpredict
andplanforfutureevents.
Inadditiontoinformingtheworkandnextstepsoftheworkinggroup,theTaskForcewillworktogethertoreviewand
providefeedbackonstandardoperatingprocedures(SOP)thatwillbeutilizedbytheagenciesresponsibleforoversight
ofpublichealthandthefisheries.
About California Ocean Science Trust
CaliforniaOceanScienceTrustisaboundaryorganizationbringingtogethergovernment,academics,andcommunities
usingscienceasagatheringpoint.Thoughwearenotastateagency,ourrelationshiptoCaliforniaisformalizedby
CaliforniaOceanResourcesStewardshipAct(CORSA),passedin2000.Thatstatutedirectshowourboardispopulated,
includingStateagencyrepresentationandnominationssubmittedfromboththeUniversityofCaliforniaandCalifornia
StateUniversity.WealsosubmitannualreportstotheStateLegislature.ThisuniquearrangementgivesCaliforniaan
independentpartnerwhocantakethelongview.
Workingcloselywithoceanandcoastalagencies,wesupportCalifornia’sgoalofmaintainingahealthy,resilient,and
productiveoceanforthebenefitofcurrentandfuturegenerations.Onbehalfofourpartner,theCaliforniaOcean
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ProtectionCouncil,weconveneandmanagetheirScienceAdvisoryTeam.TheExecutiveDirectorofOceanScienceTrust
servesastheScienceAdvisortotheOceanProtectionCouncilandco-chairstheScienceAdvisoryTeam.Manyother
stateandfederalagenciesworkwithusontheoceanissuesofimportancetoCalifornia.
About the OPC Science Advisory Team
AssemblyBill1056,signedbytheGovernorinSeptember2007,requiresthattheOPCestablisha“scienceadvisoryteam
ofdistinguishedscientiststoassistitinmeetingthepurposesofthe[CaliforniaOceanProtectionAct].”Inaccordance
withthesemandates,thefirstOPC-SATwasofficiallyadoptedbytheOPCinFebruary2008.TheOPC-SATiscoordinated
bytheCaliforniaOceanScienceTrustandco-chairedbyOceanScienceTrust’sExecutiveDirector,whowasdesignated
astheOPCScienceAdvisorinFebruary2007.
Timeline
June
July
August
September
OPC-SATWorkingGroupconvened
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PRODUCTAVAILABLE
FrequentlyAskedQuestions
August5,2016
EVENT
Publicconferencecall 10:00am-11:00am
July27,2016
Call-in:(218)339-7800
AccessCode:7927150
EVENT
Publicroundtablediscussion/Public
webinar
TBD
EVENT
JointCommitteeonFisheriesand
Aquaculturehearing
1:00PM-4:00PM
August10,2016
CapitolBldg.,Room3191
Sacramento,CA
PRODUCTAVAILABLE
OPC-SATWorkingGroupreport
September30,
2016
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