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HAB-ANCA
Harmful Algae in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions
Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOCARIBE)
1. What is the IOC HAB Programme and the ANCA Network?
Every coastal country in the world is potentially affected by harmful blooms of microscopic algae, also called phytoplankton. These biogeochemical events can decimate marine life, cause severe economic losses in fisheries and coastal tourism, and lead to serious illness or death in humans.
The Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Programme of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) helps Member States develop the research and management capacity needed to understand the environmental causes of these blooms, predict their occurrences, and mitigate their effects.
Within this global framework, the Harmful Algae in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ANCA) network serves as the technical and scientific steering body for the Wider Caribbean region. Its mission is to foster a regional collaborative platform integrating environmental monitoring with public health services.
Strategic Network Objectives:
- Understand and Cope: Improve the understanding of harmful algal blooms in the Caribbean region and adjacent areas and our ability to cope with its impacts.
- Decision-Making Support: Collect and analyze critical information that allows making informed decisions and implementing timely management actions and contingency strategies.
- Characterization and Taxonomic Identification: Identify and characterize the microalgae responsible for intoxications (PSP, DSP, ASP, NSP, Ciguatera), as well as the bivalves and fish species acting as toxin vectors in the region.
- Regional Capacity Development: Train HAB researchers for the region, taking advantage of the existing knowledge in the Caribbean and international cooperation through intensive workshops, courses, and technical knowledge exchange.
2. Historical Context and Origins of the Network
The ANCA network was originally conceived in 1996 as an initiative of Cuban researchers due to the recurring problems of marine poisoning and death of people in Caribbean countries. The critical need to implement coordinated biological monitoring and early warning systems was highlighted by a history of severe public health events in the region, including:
| Year of Event | Affected Country | No. Intoxicated | No. Deaths | Associated Syndrome / Causal Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Venezuela | 257 | 10 | Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) from mussel consumption (Perna perna) |
| 1979 | México | Unknown | 3 | Massive poisoning outbreak in Mazatlán Bay (Gymnodinium catenatum) |
| 1987 | Guatemala | 187 | 26 | Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) from clam consumption (Amphichaena kindermanni) |
| 1987 | México | 99 | 3 | Critical regional PSP event spanning from El Salvador to Oaxaca |
| 1994 - 1997 | Cuba | 1,144 | 10 | Acute cases of Ciguatera epidemiologically tracked by CENATOX |
3. Member States and Focal Points of the ANCA Working Group (ANCA Member State Directory)
The operational and scientific progress of the network is driven by its designated institutional experts across Member States:
COSTA RICA Chair
MÉXICO Vice-Chair
COLOMBIA Focal Point
CUBA Focal Point
PANAMÁ Focal Point
VENEZUELA Focal Point
GUATEMALA Focal Point
EL SALVADOR Focal Point
REP. DOMINICANA Focal Point
HONDURAS Focal Point
BARBADOS Focal Point
JAMAICA Experts
TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO Focal Point
PUERTO RICO Focal Point
4. History of Scientific Planning Workshops
The ANCA Working Group defines its regional scientific lines and contingency operations through its regional workshops and equivalent expert meetings organized in cooperation with the IOC and allied international bodies:
- 9th Meeting of the ANCA Working Group (Virtual Session, September 17, 2025):
Reviewed intersessional milestones, including regional progress on early warning systems (IRMA in Colombia, IRCIGUA in Cuba, and SIAT in Mexico). The 2026-2027 Work Plan was formally approved according to Recommendation 13 of IOCARIBE XVIII and IOC-33 Assembly targets, emphasizing HAEDAT data management workshops, technical co-operations with REMARCO, and the election of new executive officers. - VI IOC Regional Science Planning Workshop on Harmful Algae in IOCARIBE (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 26-30, 2015):
Held at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña, co-organized with the IAEA (Project RLA7020). Focused on capacity building for compiling and uploading data and metadata to the international HAEDAT and OBIS systems, ensuring the inclusion of the Wider Caribbean in the upcoming Global HAB Status Report. Stardardized coastal area reporting codes were successfully established. - V IOC Regional Science Planning Workshop on Harmful Algae in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (Mexico City, Mexico, May 16-17, 2013):
Dedicated to examining strategic linkages with the Information Management System (IMS) and the Regional Environmental Monitoring Programme (REMP) of the CLME project. Formulated five regional strategic objectives to mitigate impacts on human health and ecosystems, noting risks to coral reef systems due to massive bleaching linked to expansive blooms. - IV IOC Regional Science Planning Workshop on Harmful Algal Blooms in IOCARIBE (San Andrés Island, Colombia, May 22-24, 2007):
Hosted by the Institute of Caribbean Studies of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Examined regional budget constraints and national monitoring limitations under international frameworks. Run in parallel with the first intensive seminar introducing toxic phytoplankton and marine biotoxins to professionals and local coastal managers. - First Meeting of the IOC Working Group on Harmful Algae in the Caribbean and Adjacent Region (Havana, Cuba, June 29 - July 1, 1998):
The foundational session of the ANCA network, supported by the Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras of Cuba and the IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae (Vigo, Spain). Facilitated the first compilation of annual national reports and finalized the original terms of reference endorsed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB-IV).