Blue-Green and Benthic: A Workshop on Monitoring, Mitigation and Management of Cyanobacteria in Atlantic Canada. Final Report.

Abstract

WORKSHOP SUMMARY Since the 2018 Atlantic Canadian Cyanobacteria Workshop, we have seen a rapid increase in the number of waterbodies (recreational and drinking water supplies) under public advisories, exposing gaps in local capacity for surveillance, notification, and mitigation. The aim of this workshop was to disseminate local expertise, promote the coordination of research programs between participants, and inform future monitoring strategies and areas of research. The workshop provided a forum for academic, government, and industrial researchers to connect with regulators, operators, and practitioners and share novel findings and on-going research into benthic and planktonic proliferations of cyanobacteria across Atlantic Canada. This report contains key findings from the workshop, challenges related to the complexity of cyanobacteria, and outstanding research questions that should be addressed in future efforts.