Harmful algal blooms (HAB) events are increasing along the west coast of the united states, and both forecasting and management options are seeking to mitigate impacts to human and wildlife communities

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Oregon State University $406,801 through a cooperative agreement under the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Coastal Ocean Program (CFDA 11.478) on July 1, 2026.

Oregon State University will identify the social and cultural impacts of harmful algal bloom events on West Coast communities, with geographic focus on shorelines in Southern California and the Puget Sound, Washington. The research employs five methods: analysis of existing social and HAB datasets, public beach intersect surveys, shoreline resident surveys and interviews, focus groups, and social media scraping. Beyond documenting impacts across diverse stakeholder and rightsholder groups, the project will produce a toolkit of data collection protocols adaptable for implementation in other regions. A Management Transition Advisory Group comprised of government resource managers will provide continuous guidance to ensure findings support monitoring and decision-making.

The cooperative agreement runs through June 30, 2029, with place of performance in Corvallis, Oregon. The Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Competitive Research Program funds peer-reviewed, collaborative research producing actionable science and tools to support management and policy decisions protecting public health, coastal ecosystems, and community economic vitality. Multi-year awards are contingent upon availability of appropriations in subsequent fiscal years and recipient progress toward project objectives.

While some research has explored the economic impacts of these events on certain fisheries, there has been limited research on the non-monetary social and cultural impacts experienced through losing opportunities for consumption, losing opportunities for nonconsumptive activities, and witnessing distressing impacts on wildlife. This study will identify the variety of social and cultural impacts of HAB events on the west coast across different stakeholder and rightsholder groups. IT will geographically focus on shorelines in southern california and the puget sound, washington, employing five research methods: 1) analysis of existing social and HAB datasets; 2) public beach intersect surveys; 3) shoreline resident surveys and interviews; 4) focus groups; and 5) social media scraping. In addition to summarizing the social and cultural impacts across diverse people, the project will also provide a toolkit of data collection protocols that can be modified and implemented in other regions. The project will be continuously informed by a management transition advisory group (mtag) that consists of government resource managers who will use the data for monitoring and decision making.