Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae:
A National Plan
V. SUMMARY
The preceding text lists numerous impediments to progress in the area of marine biotoxins
and harmful algae and addresses each with a series of recommendations. The length
of these lists defines the major challenge before us if the goal of the National
Plan is to be realized. Some might conclude from the many impediments that past research
has made little progress, but this is certainly not the case. The scientific and
policy disciplines involved are healthy and maturing, though underfunded relative
to the expanding problem.
The rate and extent of progress from here will depend in large part on how effectively
the recommendations in this National Plan are implemented. Our hope is that numerous
state and federal agencies will use this document to identify topics that relate
to their particular responsibilities or purviews, and that scientists and private industry
will use these ideas to guide their activities as well. No single agency can address
all of the identified impediments, but most can be covered by the combined efforts of several organizations. Overlap and omissions are likely however, unless further
coordination is attempted at the agency level. The network has been established
to make this possible, but concerted efforts will be necessary to keep the lines
of communication and coordination open.