Socioeconomic disruptions of harmful algal blooms in indigenous communities: the case of Quinault Indian nation

Melina Kourantidou; Di Jin; Ervin Joe Schumacker

doi:10.1016/j.hal.2022.102316

Socioeconomic disruptions of harmful algal blooms in indigenous communities: the case of Quinault Indian nation

Melina Kourantidou^*, Di Jin, Ervin Joe Schumacker

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been a pervasive challenge across coastal communities of the U.S. West Coast in recent years negatively affecting local economies and livelihoods. We focus on the effects of HABs to the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) triggered by Pseudo-nitzschia that produce the toxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin accumulates in filter feeders and poses threats to human health via shellfish consumption. Consumption of razor clams with high levels of DA and Dungeness crab that prey on them can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and therefore requires closure of commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries, postponing or limiting harvesting seasons. These disruptions result in significant losses in revenues along with negative effects to sociocultural dimensions of key importance to coastal communities. Livelihoods and wellbeing of tribal communities are affected disproportionately due to higher vulnerability and reliance on these marine resources for subsistence. We assess these effects at multiple levels for the QIN and discuss and reflect, through a tribal lens, upon advances and opportunities for impact mitigation and adaptation in the face of HABs, along with persisting challenges.

Original language	English
Article number	102316
Journal	Harmful Algae
Volume	118
Number of pages	17
ISSN	1568-9883
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2022.102316
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Today, funding is provided by the NCCOS Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) program, through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program for a National HAB Observing Network ( NHABON ), with additional support from the ORHAB partnership ( PNW HAB Bulletin, 2022 ). While there is wide recognition of the value of the Bulletin, in providing stakeholders and coastal managers with short-term forecasts, past experience in the availability of funding to support its continuation shows signs of a reactive approach to HAB crises. Currently, there is NCCOS grant support for the PNW HAB Bulletin through 2022 and there are efforts underway to transition it to operations at the regional Ocean Observing System, NANOOS, to ensure its continuation ( NCCOS ). Part of these efforts include the new grant award to NANOOS for observing and modeling in coastal waters, estuaries and shorelines to provide real-time information and integrated data products to address a number of research questions including those related to HABs ( IOOS, 2021 ).

Funding Information:
We thank Vera Trainer, Daniel Ayres, and Matthew Hunter for beneficial discussions and Stephanie Moore for sharing the domoic acid test data, as well as the Washington State Department of Health. We also thank David Bingaman and Larry Gilbertson at the Quinault Division of Natural Resources for reviewing the manuscript and providing useful suggestions as well as the Quinault Tribal Council for approving the submission of this manuscript.

Funding Information:
A community HAB partnership was recognized as a need in the 1990s, following the 1991 HAB event which resulted in an almost yearlong closure. This crisis severely hurt the economies of WA's coastal communities and decimated the QIN's razor clam fishery ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ; Horner and Postel, 1993 ). Estimates for the cost of these closures from commercial and recreation razor clam fisheries (1991–1992) were in the range of $23 - $28 million ( National Research Council, 1999 ). By 1997, the Quileute Tribe had started monitoring shellfish tissues for DA as well as phytoplankton for Pseudo-nitzschia. Support came from the NWFSC and later through funding from the NCCOS. Meanwhile, the QIN, together with the WDOH and the WDFW expanded to large extent sampling of razor clams and tissue analysis ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ). In 1998, when a second large HAB event occurred, this collaborative initiative that involved several tribal, state and federal organizations (expanding to the University of Washington, Makah Tribe, WA Department of Ecology, Battelle Environmental Lab and the Pacific Shellfish Institute), and evolved into what is known today as the ORHAB partnership. Two years afterwards (2000) the ORHAB Partnership had started monitoring Pseudo-nitzschia and DA in seawater ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ; Trainer and Suddleson, 2005 )

Keywords

Forecast
Harmful algal blooms
Livelihoods
Marine resources
Quinault Indian nation
Shellfish

Documents & Links

10.1016/j.hal.2022.102316

SDU Link

Check access to the material in SDU Library's search engine

Cite this

@article{bd6432b34aac45929e4dd510717526fa,

title = "Socioeconomic disruptions of harmful algal blooms in indigenous communities: the case of Quinault Indian nation",

abstract = "Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been a pervasive challenge across coastal communities of the U.S. West Coast in recent years negatively affecting local economies and livelihoods. We focus on the effects of HABs to the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) triggered by Pseudo-nitzschia that produce the toxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin accumulates in filter feeders and poses threats to human health via shellfish consumption. Consumption of razor clams with high levels of DA and Dungeness crab that prey on them can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and therefore requires closure of commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries, postponing or limiting harvesting seasons. These disruptions result in significant losses in revenues along with negative effects to sociocultural dimensions of key importance to coastal communities. Livelihoods and wellbeing of tribal communities are affected disproportionately due to higher vulnerability and reliance on these marine resources for subsistence. We assess these effects at multiple levels for the QIN and discuss and reflect, through a tribal lens, upon advances and opportunities for impact mitigation and adaptation in the face of HABs, along with persisting challenges.",

keywords = "Forecast, Harmful algal blooms, Livelihoods, Marine resources, Quinault Indian nation, Shellfish",

author = "Melina Kourantidou and Di Jin and Schumacker, {Ervin Joe}",

note = "Funding Information: Today, funding is provided by the NCCOS Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) program, through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program for a National HAB Observing Network ( NHABON ), with additional support from the ORHAB partnership ( PNW HAB Bulletin, 2022 ). While there is wide recognition of the value of the Bulletin, in providing stakeholders and coastal managers with short-term forecasts, past experience in the availability of funding to support its continuation shows signs of a reactive approach to HAB crises. Currently, there is NCCOS grant support for the PNW HAB Bulletin through 2022 and there are efforts underway to transition it to operations at the regional Ocean Observing System, NANOOS, to ensure its continuation ( NCCOS ). Part of these efforts include the new grant award to NANOOS for observing and modeling in coastal waters, estuaries and shorelines to provide real-time information and integrated data products to address a number of research questions including those related to HABs ( IOOS, 2021 ). Funding Information: We thank Vera Trainer, Daniel Ayres, and Matthew Hunter for beneficial discussions and Stephanie Moore for sharing the domoic acid test data, as well as the Washington State Department of Health. We also thank David Bingaman and Larry Gilbertson at the Quinault Division of Natural Resources for reviewing the manuscript and providing useful suggestions as well as the Quinault Tribal Council for approving the submission of this manuscript. Funding Information: A community HAB partnership was recognized as a need in the 1990s, following the 1991 HAB event which resulted in an almost yearlong closure. This crisis severely hurt the economies of WA's coastal communities and decimated the QIN's razor clam fishery ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ; Horner and Postel, 1993 ). Estimates for the cost of these closures from commercial and recreation razor clam fisheries (1991–1992) were in the range of $23 - $28 million ( National Research Council, 1999 ). By 1997, the Quileute Tribe had started monitoring shellfish tissues for DA as well as phytoplankton for Pseudo-nitzschia. Support came from the NWFSC and later through funding from the NCCOS. Meanwhile, the QIN, together with the WDOH and the WDFW expanded to large extent sampling of razor clams and tissue analysis ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ). In 1998, when a second large HAB event occurred, this collaborative initiative that involved several tribal, state and federal organizations (expanding to the University of Washington, Makah Tribe, WA Department of Ecology, Battelle Environmental Lab and the Pacific Shellfish Institute), and evolved into what is known today as the ORHAB partnership. Two years afterwards (2000) the ORHAB Partnership had started monitoring Pseudo-nitzschia and DA in seawater ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ; Trainer and Suddleson, 2005 ) ",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.hal.2022.102316",

language = "English",

volume = "118",

journal = "Harmful Algae",

issn = "1568-9883",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Socioeconomic disruptions of harmful algal blooms in indigenous communities

T2 - the case of Quinault Indian nation

AU - Kourantidou, Melina

AU - Jin, Di

AU - Schumacker, Ervin Joe

N1 - Funding Information: Today, funding is provided by the NCCOS Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) program, through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program for a National HAB Observing Network ( NHABON ), with additional support from the ORHAB partnership ( PNW HAB Bulletin, 2022 ). While there is wide recognition of the value of the Bulletin, in providing stakeholders and coastal managers with short-term forecasts, past experience in the availability of funding to support its continuation shows signs of a reactive approach to HAB crises. Currently, there is NCCOS grant support for the PNW HAB Bulletin through 2022 and there are efforts underway to transition it to operations at the regional Ocean Observing System, NANOOS, to ensure its continuation ( NCCOS ). Part of these efforts include the new grant award to NANOOS for observing and modeling in coastal waters, estuaries and shorelines to provide real-time information and integrated data products to address a number of research questions including those related to HABs ( IOOS, 2021 ). Funding Information: We thank Vera Trainer, Daniel Ayres, and Matthew Hunter for beneficial discussions and Stephanie Moore for sharing the domoic acid test data, as well as the Washington State Department of Health. We also thank David Bingaman and Larry Gilbertson at the Quinault Division of Natural Resources for reviewing the manuscript and providing useful suggestions as well as the Quinault Tribal Council for approving the submission of this manuscript. Funding Information: A community HAB partnership was recognized as a need in the 1990s, following the 1991 HAB event which resulted in an almost yearlong closure. This crisis severely hurt the economies of WA's coastal communities and decimated the QIN's razor clam fishery ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ; Horner and Postel, 1993 ). Estimates for the cost of these closures from commercial and recreation razor clam fisheries (1991–1992) were in the range of $23 - $28 million ( National Research Council, 1999 ). By 1997, the Quileute Tribe had started monitoring shellfish tissues for DA as well as phytoplankton for Pseudo-nitzschia. Support came from the NWFSC and later through funding from the NCCOS. Meanwhile, the QIN, together with the WDOH and the WDFW expanded to large extent sampling of razor clams and tissue analysis ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ). In 1998, when a second large HAB event occurred, this collaborative initiative that involved several tribal, state and federal organizations (expanding to the University of Washington, Makah Tribe, WA Department of Ecology, Battelle Environmental Lab and the Pacific Shellfish Institute), and evolved into what is known today as the ORHAB partnership. Two years afterwards (2000) the ORHAB Partnership had started monitoring Pseudo-nitzschia and DA in seawater ( Chadsey et al., 2012 ; Trainer and Suddleson, 2005 )

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been a pervasive challenge across coastal communities of the U.S. West Coast in recent years negatively affecting local economies and livelihoods. We focus on the effects of HABs to the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) triggered by Pseudo-nitzschia that produce the toxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin accumulates in filter feeders and poses threats to human health via shellfish consumption. Consumption of razor clams with high levels of DA and Dungeness crab that prey on them can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and therefore requires closure of commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries, postponing or limiting harvesting seasons. These disruptions result in significant losses in revenues along with negative effects to sociocultural dimensions of key importance to coastal communities. Livelihoods and wellbeing of tribal communities are affected disproportionately due to higher vulnerability and reliance on these marine resources for subsistence. We assess these effects at multiple levels for the QIN and discuss and reflect, through a tribal lens, upon advances and opportunities for impact mitigation and adaptation in the face of HABs, along with persisting challenges.

AB - Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been a pervasive challenge across coastal communities of the U.S. West Coast in recent years negatively affecting local economies and livelihoods. We focus on the effects of HABs to the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) triggered by Pseudo-nitzschia that produce the toxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin accumulates in filter feeders and poses threats to human health via shellfish consumption. Consumption of razor clams with high levels of DA and Dungeness crab that prey on them can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and therefore requires closure of commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries, postponing or limiting harvesting seasons. These disruptions result in significant losses in revenues along with negative effects to sociocultural dimensions of key importance to coastal communities. Livelihoods and wellbeing of tribal communities are affected disproportionately due to higher vulnerability and reliance on these marine resources for subsistence. We assess these effects at multiple levels for the QIN and discuss and reflect, through a tribal lens, upon advances and opportunities for impact mitigation and adaptation in the face of HABs, along with persisting challenges.

KW - Forecast

KW - Harmful algal blooms

KW - Livelihoods

KW - Marine resources

KW - Quinault Indian nation

KW - Shellfish

U2 - 10.1016/j.hal.2022.102316

DO - 10.1016/j.hal.2022.102316

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36195430

AN - SCOPUS:85137281439

SN - 1568-9883

VL - 118

JO - Harmful Algae

JF - Harmful Algae

M1 - 102316

ER -

Socioeconomic disruptions of harmful algal blooms in indigenous communities: the case of Quinault Indian nation

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Documents & Links

SDU Link

Fingerprint

Cite this