Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia: Formulating an Action Plan

Opening Statement By Chairman Brian Baird

Good afternoon. I want to welcome everyone to today’s legislative hearing on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and draft legislation for the reauthorization of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act.

Last year the subcommittee convened and discussed the impact harmful algal blooms and hypoxia has on our coastlines and in bodies of freshwater. I know in the State of Washington, HABs has made it increasingly difficult to manage important fisheries. It has also been our responsibility to protect citizens from the threats that these blooms cause on our beaches and subsequently result in wide area closures.

Harmful algal blooms pose serious threats because of their production of toxins and reduction of oxygen in the water. These impacts include alteration of the ocean’s food web, human illnesses, and economic losses to communities and commercial fisheries.

The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and even the more recent occurrences of coastal dead zones, such as in Oregon, have also caused many fish, crabs, and other aquatic organisms to either flee or die in suffocating waters.

I believe we have taken some important steps and made great advances in our research findings due to the 1998 Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act and in the 2004 reauthorization.  However it is now time to build upon the numerous reports and assessments that came out of these two laws.

This reauthorization calls for action plans to begin responding to the needs of our communities. This bill establishes a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tasked as the lead to oversee the development of these plans. In addition, there needs to be more work done on the freshwater HABs.  HABs not only affect our coastlines but our inland waters as well. I think my colleagues will agree that we expect to see a collaborative effort between NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in addressing the threat of HABs to freshwater.

Since the last reauthorization of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act in 2004, there has been an increase in the number, frequency, and type of blooms and hypoxic events in recent years.  We need to continue the valuable ongoing research while now implementing strategic national and regional plans.

We need to use our research and advances in our understanding of these blooms and the hypoxic events they cause to better monitor, mitigate, and control these occurrences and even prevent them, if possible. 

We have a distinguished panel of witnesses here today, and I hope they will offer us expert testimony on how we can move forward together in responding to this problem.

I want to thank all of our witnesses for being here today. At this time, I would like to recognize our distinguished Ranking Member, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina for his opening statement.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Dr. Robert Magnien
Director Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research National Oceani
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2 - Ms. Suzanne E. Schwartz
Acting Director Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds U.S. Environmental Pr
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6 - Dr. Donald Scavia
Graham Family Professor of Environmental Sustainability University of Michigan University of Michigan
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5 - Dr. Greg L. Boyer
Professor of Biochemistry and Director Great Lakes Research Consortium State University of New York Great Lakes Research Consortium State University of New York
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3 - Mr. Dan L. Ayres
Coastal Shellfish - Lead Biologist Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
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4 - Dr. Donald M. Anderson
Senior Scientist Biology Department Director of National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms Biology Department Director of National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms
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