Florida's Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force Committees

Five committees, or working groups, formed since the Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force meeting in 2002. Their purpose is to address harmful algal bloom research, monitoring, and response priorities.

The Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force (FHABTF) was established in 1997 to investigate critical harmful algal bloom (HAB) issues affecting Florida waters and to recommend actions. It received a legislative mandate in July 1999, Florida Statute (F.S.) Chapter (Ch.) 370.06092 (now F.S. Ch. 379.2271), which assigned four tasks:

"(a) Review the status and adequacy of information for monitoring physical, chemical, biological, economic, and public health factors affecting harmful algal blooms in Florida;

"(b) Develop research and monitoring priorities for harmful algal blooms in Florida, including detection, prediction, mitigation and control;

"(c) "Develop recommendations that can be implemented by state and local governments to develop a response plan and to predict, mitigate, and control the effects of harmful algal blooms; and

"(d) Make recommendations to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for blooms in Florida."

During a five-year period from 1997 through 2002, tasks "A," "B," and "D" HAB issues were addressed and appropriate priority recommendations made as outlined in the "White Paper," Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida (Steidinger et al., 1999).

In June 2009, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's (FWC/FWRI) published technical report TR-14, Resource guide for public health response to harmful algal blooms in Florida (Abbott et al., 2009). It addressed the remaining task (F.S. Ch. 379.2271 [2][c]). This joint FWC/FWRI-Florida Department of Health (FDOH) report updates and expands on information originally provided in the 1999 "White Paper," and gives information needed by managers to prioritize regional HAB issues and develop localized public health response plans to HABs. The portion of the statute on "predict, mitigate, and control the effects of harmful algal blooms" was also addressed in part by the Red Tide Control and Mitigation Program.

Although the last official meeting of the FHABTF was held in April 2002, several initiatives have been taken to address an increasing number of HAB issues affecting public health and natural resources in the state. Five committees or working groups were established that address HAB research, monitoring, and response priorities:

1. The FHABTF Public Health Technical Panel

The FWRI and the FDOH established a group in 2004 known as the FHABTF Public Health Technical Panel to further address outstanding public health issues from HABs outlined in the goals for [2][c] of F.S. Ch. 379.2271^1.

The FHABTF Public Health Technical Panel met in 2004, 2005, and 2006 to familiarize county health personnel with the different HABs in Florida, to identify the public health and environmental effects of a particular bloom, and to identify the resources needed for developing public health response plans at the county level. The meetings were in part a review of currently known harmful algae, the consequences of their presence in Florida waters, and brainstorming on issues such as monitoring, research, agency coordination, public health information, education, and communication. Participants included more than 70 people from a wide variety of public and private backgrounds and fields. With input from these meetings, a technical report entitled " Resource Guide for Public Health Response to Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida" (Abbott et al., 2009) was developed and serves as a resource to guide state and local governments in developing HAB response plans.

2. Interagency Response Coordination for Cyanobacteria

During fiscal year (FY) 2006-2007, an unfunded working group known as the "Interagency Response Coordination Group for Cyanobacteria" was developed in cooperation with three agencies¹. Additionally, scientific and managerial experts in HABs and its impacts, including representatives from additional agencies², met. The groups addressed both sustained and new issues from cyanobacteria blooms, toxins, and public and natural resource health risks in state waters.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) facilitated the group to establish statewide standard operating procedures for sampling cyanobacteria blooms. The same group is currently working to establish interagency response plans for cyanobacteria blooms throughout state waters. The last meeting, held in February 2008, was to begin development of a State of Florida Interagency Cyanobacteria Bloom Response Plan.

3. Florida HAB Task Force Recreational Harvesting Group

During FY 2006-2007, an unfunded working group, called the FHABTF Recreational Harvesting group, was developed to address the sharp increase in neurotoxic shellfish poisoning cases linked to recreationally harvested shellfish beds (from brevetoxins produced by Karenia brevis red tides). When some individuals in southwest Florida were hospitalized after consuming the toxic shellfish, there was an important need for the state to address shellfish harvesting and public health risks in areas outside of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (FDACS) jurisdiction.

The FDOH was given approval by FWRI to initiate this group, which would act under the authority of the FHABTF.

An initial conference call was held on April 5, 2007. Representatives from three state agencies³ continue to discuss the development of response plans to these events, as well as appropriate outreach materials to better inform the public.

4. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Biotoxin and Aquatic Animal Health Working Group

The Indian River Lagoon Biotoxin and Aquatic Animal Health Working Group was created in 2003 with representatives from several agencies⁴ to specifically address HABs and their impacts in the region.

An element of this working group met in 2007 to assess the expansion of saxitoxin-producing Pyrodinium blooms in the Indian River Lagoon, sustained health risks to the public and natural resources, and impacts on local economies.

5. Red Tide Control and Mitigation Grant Program Panel

Under Chapter 379.2272 (formerly Chapter 370.06093), Florida Statutes, "(2) A financial disbursement program is created within the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to implement the provisions of this act. Under the program, the institute shall provide funding and technical assistance to government agencies, research universities, local coastal governments, and organizations with scientific and technical expertise for the purposes of harmful algal bloom research, economic impact study, monitoring, detection, control, and mitigation (or relief). The program may be funded from state, federal, and private contributions."

In response to an identified state need, FWRI established a Red Tide Control and Mitigation (RTCM) Grant Program to disburse annually appropriated funds to explore environmentally acceptable techniques or technologies for potential control or relief of red tide blooms and their effects in Florida. In 2006, an RTCM panel was created byFWRI with input from appropriate partners and stakeholders. This nine-member panel consists of representatives from various state and local government agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations to provide expert reviews of proposals submitted to this competitive grant program.

The RTCM panel met twice in 2007 to establish the evaluation process and review and discuss submissions received in response to FWC's call for proposals. The panel's funding recommendations resulted in 12 funded projects. Legislative budget cuts that began in 2008 threaten the program's future, and funding of new projects has been halted.

There is still a pressing need for Florida to develop a combined approach to document and examine HAB problems and to determine how to minimize, predict, manage, and control HABs. Additionally, a need exists to continue studying and assessing the risks to public health and natural resources from cyanotoxins in drinking water reservoirs and HAB toxins in other aquatic habitats. Finally, developing a consensus in communication, feedback, and educational resources regarding HABs for the media and public at large is also necessary.

References

Abbott,G. M., J. H. Landsberg, A. R. Reich, K. A. Steidinger, S.Ketchen, and C. Blackmore. 2009. Resource guide for public health response to harmful algal blooms in Florida. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Technical Report TR-14. viii + 132 p.