Harmful Algal Bloom Control Workshop – January 12, 2026
Learn about the state of the science of harmful algal bloom (HAB) control technologies.
On January 12, 2026, the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), on behalf of OPC, will host a virtual public workshop to assess the state of the science and explore potential options for controlling harmful algal blooms (HABs) in California’s coastal waters.
HABs have become increasingly damaging to California resources and ecosystem health, with toxic blooms occurring annually over the past 4 years. California currently reduces HAB risks through detection, monitoring, forecasting, and event response. To complement these HAB management strategies, California is interested in exploring the potential use of HAB control strategies that directly kill HAB cells or destroy their toxins, physically remove cells or toxins from aquatic systems, or limit cell growth and proliferation.
The public and scientific community are invited to attend talks and provide comment on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In this virtual session, experts will present state of the science of HAB control strategies, and impacted stakeholders will share insights on how HABs affect their work and discuss strategies for reducing these impacts. The public workshop will be followed by a closed session to support scientific consensus building around the feasibility, risks, and research needs associated with HAB control strategies in California. A summary of the full workshop will be released and posted on OPC’s website.
Agenda
10:00 a.m. Introduction
Goal, agenda, and key products
- Steve Weisberg, SCCWRP
Management motivation
- Kyla Kelly, OPC
Framing the problem: CA coastal HAB problems, overview of uses impacted, mitigation framing and needs
- Jayme Smith, SCCWRP
10:30 a.m. Long-term and short-term approaches to reduce HABs: What are the options
- Don Anderson, WHOI
11:00 a.m. Short-term HAB mitigation: US HABs Incubator (HAB-CTI) and relevant research
- Allen R. Place & Taylor Armstrong, UMCES
11:20 a.m. Short-term HAB mitigation: Research and implementation of control technologies in Florida waters
- Kevin Claridge, Mote Marine Lab
11:40 a.m. Audience Q&A
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Controlling Impacts to the Use: Marine Mammal Stranding
- Dave Bader, Los Angeles Marine Mammal Care Center
- Alissa Deming, Pacific Marine Mammal Care Center
1:45 p.m. Controlling Impacts to the Use: Aquaculture
- Christina Grant, California Department of Public Health
2:30 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. Controlling Impacts to the Use: Fisheries/Recreation
- Christy Juhasz, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Misty Peacock, Northwest Indian College
3:30 p.m. HAB Detection and Forecasting
- Clarissa Anderson, SCCOOS
4:00 p.m. Audience Comments
- Attendees will be asked about other use cases or technologies
4:30 p.m. Adjourn public portion of meeting
For more information, please contact Jayme Smith, SCCWRP Senior Scientist (jaymes@sccwrp.org) and/or Kyla Kelly, OPC Water Quality Program Manager (kyla.kelly@resources.ca.gov) with the subject line “OPC HAB Control”.