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The overall goal of the IOC HAB Programme:
To foster the effective management of, and scientific research on, harmful algal blooms in order to understand their causes, predict their occurrences, and mitigate their effects
Intergovernmental Panel on HABs met 22-24 April
The IOC Intergovernmental Panel on HABs met 22-24 April 2009 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
The Panel is the forum to discuss and prioritise international activities and cooperation on HAB.
The 2009 meeting in particular discussed capacity building; the GEOHAB Research Programme; biotoxin regulation and human health; the Harmful Algae Information System and the International Ocean Data Exchange; HAB observations and their inclusion in GOOS Regional Alliances; harmful algal events, coastal zone management and linkages with coastal eutrophication; and formulation/endorsement of specific objectives for regional activities.
Executive Summary, Resolutions and Recommendations here (index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=70).
Advisory Bulletin of the GEOHAB SSC on Urea Fertilization
The GEOHAB Scientific Steering Committee has developed an Advisory Bulletin to provide sound scientific and technical advice to decision-makers in relation to proposals to add urea to the sea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon for commercial purposes.
Download at www.geohab.info (http://www.geohab.info/). IOC and SCOR communicated the Advisory Bulletin to the IMO London Convention Scientific Group on Ocean Fertilization. See also a 57-author view point paper in the Marine Pollution Bulletin: Gilbert et al., 2008. Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks.· Marine Pollution Bulletin, doi·:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010).
ORDER NOW:
UNESCO monographs on oceanographic methodology: Real-time Coastal Observing Systems for Marine Ecosystem Dynamics and Harmful Algal Blooms: Theory, Instrumentation and Modeling. Edited by Marcel Babin, Collin Roesler and John Cullen. Down load order form here
A leading system to provide data and information on toxic algae in the world oceans
An international Task Team set up by the IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) and the IOC International Ocean Data Exchange (IODE), is working to develop a Harmful Algal Information System (HAIS). HAIS is envisaged to become the leading system to provide data and information on toxic algae in the world oceans based upon data received from national monitoring operations and scientific expertise provided by national experts.
Read more about HAIS here.