The WESTPAC workshop on the development of a research strategy for Harmful Algal Blooms “What we know, and what we do not know on HABs” was held at the Institute of Oceanography, Nha Trang, Vietnam, on 19-21 December 2016.

The workshop aims to: (i) review current knowledge on HAB science, techniques and technologies in the region; (ii) identify scientific problems/questions/gaps to address; and (iii) develop a research strategy for future HAB studies.
18 foreign experts from 7 countries in the WESTPAC region and 5 Vietnamese experts participated in the workshop.

In three days, 27 scientific reports on recent HABs of the countries in the region, updating new information and knowledge, sharing experience and manegement methods on HAB, new plan of research strategy for Harmful Algal Blooms in the future had been presented at the worshop.

All participants demonstrated their high passion for a closer cooperation among institutions and countries in the region. Lively discussions were made about the regional research strategy with a view to addressing country and/or region specific HABs and synergizing the ongoing HAB research and capacity building efforts at all levels, particularly at institutional, national and regional levels. “National and regional efforts are surely complementary to global efforts, which forms a strong and essential basis to achieve the global objectives of HAB science, for instance the GlobalHAB research program (GlobalHAB)” as all experts highlighted at the meeting.

Shortly after the workshop, immediate actions and enhanced efforts will be on

1. Information sharing via websites and publications so that member states can benefit from existing knowledge, lesson learned from the previous occurrences and fill in the unknown elements.

2. Capacity development to meet the member state needs in addressing HAB issues.

3. Technical assistance to be provided to member states who request contributions from WESTPAC HAB experts on emerging HAB occurrences.