NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Liaison

This four-year project advances the NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Liaison program by strengthening coordination, knowledge transfer, and decision-support capacity across coastal regions of the United States. The initiative links advanced operational and emerging HAB forecasting and monitoring tools developed by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) with local decision-makers, Sea Grant programs, and coastal communities. Building on the achievements of the 2021–2025 effort, the project enhances collaboration between NCCOS and the Sea Grant network to ensure that cutting-edge science, satellite-derived data products, and new technologies are accessible, actionable, and informed by community needs. Planned activities include expanding stakeholder engagement into new regions, improving the use of satellite-based detection and forecasting tools, conducting outreach and training, and facilitating participatory research and regional workshops. Expected outcomes include timelier and more informed HAB response, increased community capacity to integrate HAB data into management strategies, and strengthened national networks for communication, knowledge sharing, and collaborative HAB mitigation. Beneficiaries include state and local governments, Sea Grant extension offices, academic and industry partners, and coastal communities that rely on accurate, science-based information to reduce the environmental, economic, and public health impacts of harmful algal blooms.