WDFW Home PageFish & Wildlife Science
Home
Research Briefs
Science Papers
Hatchery Reform
Links
Article Archives
 
Fish & Wildlife Science
is published by the
Washington Department
of Fish & Wildlife
http://wdfw.wa.gov

Phil Anderson
Director

Miranda Wecker
Chair
Washington Fish &
Wildlife Commission
 

Research Briefs

Research
Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom (ORHAB) Project.

ORHAB is a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency partnership to investigate the origins of open-coast blooms of biotoxin-producing algae, monitor where and when the species occur at several locations on the coast, assess the environmental conditions under which they occur and are transported to intertidal shellfish populations, and explore methods that can be used to manage HABs.

Species concerned: Pseudo-nitzschia - a diatom that produces the biotoxin domoic acid. Siliqua patula (Pacific Razor Clam) - concentrates domoic acid.

WDFW Principal Investigator: Dan L. Ayres, Region 6 Fish Program.

Purpose of research: Since 1991 Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have disrupted Washington State's highly popular recreational razor clam seasons a total of nine times. During that time 22% of the scheduled harvest opportunities have been lost. The goal of this study is to develop methodology that can be used to predict HAB events. The advance notice such predictions could provide will help minimize the economic disruption to coastal communities caused by emergency fishery closures, while still protecting human health.

Geographic area: Washington State's Pacific Ocean coastline from the Columbia River to Cape Flattery.

Time frame of study: Depending on funding, this project began in August 2000 and may run through July 2006. Work occurs year round.

Joint partners: WDFW is one partner in the ORHAB study that also includes scientists from the following groups: National Marine Fisheries Service/Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Quinault Indian Nation (QIN), Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington Department of Health (WDOH), Washington Department of Ecology, University of Washington's Olympic Coast Natural Resources Center and School of Oceanography, Pacific Shellfish Institute, Battelle Northwest Lab, and the Saigene Company.

Funding amount and sources: This study is funded 100% by National Ocean Service's (NOS) National Center of Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). In 2000-2001, WDFW received $61,300. In 2001-2002 WDFW expects to receive $72,600 and in 2002-2003, $71,700.

Are volunteers needed? Not at this time.

Related links: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/orhab/