Harmful Algal Blooms

Multiple Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) (K. brevis) data sets were obtained for this data layer, including Harmful Algal BloomS Observing System data (HABSOS) from NCEI (1953-2018) and the NOAA HAB Operational Forecast System Dataset (2007-2018). Data includes samples from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), and the HAB Monitoring Database. Data were combined and reviewed for erroneous entries. Duplicate data from the resulting database were deleted, leaving a total of 155,307 observations. For the purpose of this K. brevis layer, only data from 2000-2018 were used due to sampling biases. An 8 square kilometer hexagonal grid was created covering the Gulf of Mexico and eastern Florida. Each year between 2000-2018 was evaluated separately. If a grid cell contained an observation that registered a value of over 100,000 cells/L (the lethal toxicity level for finfish), the grid cell received a value of '1‘. All other grid cells received a value of '0’ to represent observations below the lethal level of concern to fish. After all years were evaluated, the values for each year were totaled to obtain a resulting frequency value for that grid cell, representing the number of years that grid cell had values greater than or equal to 100,000 cells/L for the years 2000-2018.

To support ocean planning activities pursuant to the Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States, the Energy Policy Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act.

References for the 100,000 cells/l lethal concentration:

Quick JA, Henderson GE (1974) Effects of Gymnodinium breve red tide on fishes and birds:a preliminary report on behavior, anatomy, hematology and histopathology. In:Amborski RL, Hood MA, Miller RR (eds) Proceedings of the Gulf Coast regional symposium on diseases of aquatic animals. Louisiana Sea Grant, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, p 85−113;

Landsberg JH, Steidinger KA (1998) A historical review of Gymnodinium breve red tides implicated in mass mortalities of the manatee (Trichechus manatus lati - rostris) in Florida, USA. In:Reguera B, Blanco J, Fernandez ML, Wyatt T (eds) Harmful Algae. Xunta de Galicia and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Santiago de Compostela, p 97−100;

Gannon DP, Berens McCabe EJ, Camilleri SA, Gannon JG and others (2009) Effects of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms on nearshore fish communities in southwest Florida. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 378: 171−186

The native coordinate system for this layer is NAD 1983 (ESPG: 4269). Please note: all MarineCadastre.gov data served by the NOAA Office for Coastal Management and hosted through Esri REST services are in the WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere (EPSG: 3857) projection.

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For coastal and ocean planning

The attributes in this dataset are believed to be accurate.

Maximum scale of intended use is 1:80,000.

Spatial and attribute properties are believed to be complete, although attribute information has been simplified. Geometric thresholds from original data are preserved. No tests have been completed for exhaustiveness.

These data are believed to be logically consistent. Geometry is topologically clean.