Abstract

While several studies quantify the economic costs of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on fish aquaculture, there have been few estimates of the economic costs of HABs on shellfish harvesters. Among the few economic estimates of HAB impacts on shellfish are examples from the European Union, Chile, USA, and Asia. These studies state that it is important to understand not just the overall economic costs of HABs due to shellfish toxicity, but also other losses due to a harvest delay or reduction in the value of harvest for reasons such as loss of consumer confidence in the safety or quality of the product. These different impacts suggest the potential for varied mitigation measures and economic analysis. A better understanding of how HABs impact the value of shellfish aquaculture will inform the design of monitoring and forecasting programs to make them more effective and efficient. Research on the use of economics information by farm operators or stakeholders, such as regional or national public authorities, can guide the optimal frequency and spatial resolution of monitoring to determine whether an investment in forecasting is cost effective. To quantify the economic costs of HABs on shellfish aquaculture, it is necessary to quantify the revenue, and ideally profits, that would have been realized in both the presence and the absence of the HAB. Methods and data needs for the comprehensive estimation of economic impacts of HABs on shellfish harvest are discussed.