Ocean Champions is the only political voice for ocean health. We take a non-partisan approach in working with
the U.S. Congress to ensure ocean health through electoral and legislative action.

Toxic Tides (Harmful Algal Blooms)

Introduced in the Senate by Senators Olympia Snowe and Bill Nelson, and in the House by Congressman Brian Baird.

The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2009 was introduced in the Senate by two of our Ocean Champions in Congress, Senators Olympia Snowe (R, ME) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) on May 1st, 2009.  It was introduced by Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) in the House on September 25th, 2009. The HABs bill will develop and promote a national strategy to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia through baseline research, forecasting and monitoring, and mitigation and control.  The intent is to provide communities along our coasts and around the Great Lakes with the tools necessary to detect, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.

In the House, the bill went to the Floor on March 12th, and passed 251-103. In the Senate, the bill was passed by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and is ready for Floor action. Thanks to Congressional champions who wouldn't quit, and to all who made their voice heard, this strong ocean bill is closer to becoming a law.

Harmful algal blooms, which often produce a toxin and occur in both salt and fresh water, are known to kill fish, marine mammals, and birds; they can contaminate shellfish with toxins and harm human health, sometimes resulting in fatalities. They shut down fisheries, sideline fishermen and drive tourists away from resorts. Researchers have estimated that HABs cost coastal communities nearly $100 million annually. In the past year, toxic algae have contributed to fish kills in Texas and the Baltimore harbor, killed more than 10,000 seabirds off the Northwest coast, forced the closure of Maine’s shellfish harvest from April to September, contributed to record incidents of sea lion stranding along California’s central coast, and killed four pet dogs in Oregon.

Algal blooms can also cause hypoxia where oxygen is stripped from the water resulting in so-called "dead zones". Like humans, most animals and plants need oxygen for survival and typically perish in areas such as the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, which averages 6,000 square miles in size.

These problems are getting worse, as the incidence, duration, and severity of HAB events are on the rise.

Click here for Ocean Champions HAB overview.

Click here for the Summary of and link to the House bill (H.R.3650).

Click here for the Executive Summary of the Senate bill (S.952).

 

Recent HAB Outbreaks

Photo courtesy of US National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms

 

For more information about Red Tides and other Harmful Algal Blooms check out these great resources:

Rep. Connie Mack IV Speaks on Red Tide