National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network
WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL HAB OBSERVING NETWORK!
The National HAB Observing Network (NHABON) connects federal, tribal, state, regional, and local partners to improve understanding, detection, and management of HABs. NHABON works to address community needs related to HAB observing while safeguarding ecosystems, human health, and local economies. It aims to effectively and efficiently integrate local, state, regional, and federal HAB observing capabilities and deliver products operationally. The network also advances innovative technologies and research to address the costly and dangerous threats posed by HABs.
For more information, view the Framework for the National HAB Observing Network Workshop Report, and the Implementation Strategy for a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network.
Latest News & Upcoming Events
NHABON coordinated a two-day virtual workshop from March 3 to March 4, 2026, to establish shared data management standards for
integrating data from different imaging instrumentations, platforms, and projects. Read the report here!
HABs Alerts by Region
Stay up to date on harmful algal bloom (HAB) conditions in your region with HAB alerts from the Regional Associations. Click on the bulletin for your local region below to learn more and sign up today.
Pacific Northwest (NANOOS)
PNW HAB Bulletin
The Pacific Northwest HAB Bulletin (PNW HAB) provides an early warning of HABs to coastal managers. Data for the PNW HAB Bulletin, including abundance of the toxic diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia (PN), and the toxin, domoic acid (pDA), are collected by ship from HAB hotspots, such as the Juan de Fuca Eddy and Heceta Bank (see figure above), at beaches in Washington and Oregon, and from coastal moorings.
California Coast (SCCOOS / CeNCOOS)
California HAB Bulletin
Great Lakes (GLOS)
Lake Erie HAB Bulletin
For the NOAA Lake Erie HAB forecast, click here. Forecasts for seasonal blooms of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Lake Erie, typically from July to October when warmer water creates favorable conditions. Western Lake Erie has been plagued by an increase of HABs intensity over the past decade. These blooms consist of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae capable of producing toxins that pose a risk to human and animal health and impacts to communities and businesses. A combination of satellite image, a forecasting and mixing model provide information on the current status of the bloom and toxicity from field samples. For the NOAA Lake Erie Hypoxia forecast, click here.
Communities of Practice
Missed a session? Browse our collection of recorded past webinars below to catch up on discussions from our community of experts and partners.
Dr. Clarissa Anderson, Co-chair NHABON CoP, Executive Director, Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System; Dr. Vera Trainer, Co-chair NHABON CoP, Senior HAB Scientist Consultant to CSS for NOAA.
Emergency Response – West Coast PSP Case Study – March 2024
Matt Hunter, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Jerry Borchert, Washington Department of Health; Zach Forster, WDFD
Synergies in HAB Observations across UN Ocean Decade Programmes – June 2024
Meghan Cronin, Observing Air-Sea Interaction Strategy (OASIS); Zachary Gold, Ocean Bimolecular Observing Network (OBON); Maggie Broadwater, Harmful Algae Bloom Solutions (HAB-S)
Observing Needs for Tracking and Responding to Sargassum – March 2024
Dr. Julio Morell, Executive Director, CARICOOS; Dr. Brian Barnes, Assistant Research Professor, USF; Dr. Tracey Dalton,Professor and Director of Rhode Island Sea Grant, URI
HAB Observing Data Needs for Socio-Economic Analysis – Sept 2023
Dr. Brittany King, NCCOS; Dr. Di Jin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI); Dr. Frank Lupi, Michigan State University; Dr. Christa Court, University of Florida
Observing needs for HAB Events and Response: Regional Highlights – June 2023
Dr. Sarah Pease, NCCOS; Dr. Keith Bouma-Gregson, USGS; Dr. David Senn, SFEI; Dr. Kate Hubbard, FL DEP; and Evie Fachon, PhD Candidate, WHOI
Linking HAB Observations to Forecasts – March 2023
Dr. Ryan McCabe, NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory;
Dr. Nick Record, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences; Dr. Rick Stumpf, NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Operating Imaging FlowCytobots – Jan 2023
Dr. Mike Brosnahan; Dr. Kate Hubbard; Dr. Clarissa Anderson
Remote Sensing, Observing & Forecast Using Drones, Hyperspectral Sensors & Satellites – Sept 2022
Shelly Tomlinson, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA;
Dr. Andrea VanderWoude, NOAA/OAR, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
Monitoring HABs for Aquaculture – June 2022Bill Dewey, Director of Public Affairs, Taylor Shellfish Farms and Meredith White, Head of Research & Development Interim Director of Hatchery Operations, Mook Sea Farms
Making Community Science Work – March 2022
Dr. Steve Morton (NOAA NCCOS), Dr. George Bullerjahn (Bowling Green State University), Teri King (Washington Sea Grant), and Chris Whitehead (Sitka Tribe of Alaska)
Emerging Data Science Tools for Managers and Scientists – Dec 2021
Rob Bochenek (Axiom Data Science); Dr. Mike Brosnahan (WHOI); and Bob Currier (GCOOS, Texas A&M)
Implementation Strategy for a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network – Sept 2021
Dr. Steve Thur, Director of NCCOS, NOAA; Carl Gouldman, Director of U.S. IOOS Office, NOAA; and Dr. Greg Doucette, Research Oceanographer, NCCOS, NOAA
To watch a playlist of past webinars, click the link below:
Pilot Projects
Alaska Ocean Observing System
Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network (AHAB) improving HAB monitoring and event response across Alaska, especially in the U.S. Arctic
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System
Weekly monitoring program in 10 stations along the ecotone from outer keys/reefs to nearshore mangrove areas
Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System
(CeNCOOS)California’s observing network to include maintenance and operation of 11 IFCBs to identify HAB species in real-time at critical land-based and offshore locations throughout California
Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System
Imaging Flow Cytobots (IFCBs) and a data portal that will aggregate all IFCB data from the Gulf of America
Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System
(MARACOOS)Working to develop a tool created for HABs in the region for stakeholders and integrate HAB data into monitoring and forecasts.
Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Bulletin is a forecasting tool based on field observations, modeling output from data collected in HAB hotspots, from coastal moorings, and along beaches.
Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems
NERACOOS is partnering with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to strengthen HAB detection in the Northeast.
Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System
(PacIOOS)Working to establish partnerships between ongoing research and monitoring efforts in other regions with the needs and issues faced by communities in the USAPI.
Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System
California’s observing network to include maintenance and operation of 11 IFCBs to identify HAB species in real-time at critical land-based and offshore locations throughout California
Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association
Created a new Strategic Harmful Algal Bloom Plan, which will be used to guide HAB monitoring and observing investments in the region.
