Florida Sea Grant Symposia Promote Collaboration Among Harmful Algal Bloom Stakeholders

Abstract

Algal blooms are a pervasive problem for Florida, and successful management decisions must rely on the best available science. In 2019, Florida Sea Grant convened a forum of harmful algal bloom (HAB) scientists for the first Harmful Algal Bloom State of the Science Symposium. The goals of the two-day forum were to develop consensus statements identifying the current state of the science regarding what we know and what we think we know, data gaps and areas of uncertainty, and research priorities, with a focus on Karenia brevis red tides and Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacterial blooms. In 2023, Florida Sea Grant convened a second symposium at the request of the state. This symposium focused specifically on cyanobacteria and assessed progress made over the four-year period between symposia. Consensus statements summarizing what we’ve learned, new research priorities, and best practices for cyanobacterial HAB research and management efforts were developed. The symposia consensus reports are used to inform Florida’s Harmful Algal Bloom and Blue-Green Algae Task Forces by aligning and prioritizing the management and research needs of the agencies and scientific institutions and to facilitate cohesive public outreach.