Act is accepting preliminary applications from developers, manufacturers, and distributors of in situ pCO2 sensors interested in participating in independent performance testing. ACT will review responses from interested parties and invite those with technologies that meet established criteria to submit a full proposal package. This ACT Demonstration will focus on commercially available instruments, as well as prototypes, designed to measure the partial pressure of carbon dioxide directly in the field. The goal is to highlight the capabilities and potentials of these new technologies and to address critical environmental issues, such as ocean acidification. Field tests will be conducted in two or more diverse coastal settings throughout the U.S. and will be free of charge for qualifying applicants. All results will be made available to the public in summary reports.

Act is issuing a modification to its Request for Technologies (RFT, see below) for harmful algal and toxin detection technologies/methodologies based on consensus opinions derived from community participants at the October 22-24, 2008 workshop entitled Technologies and Methodologies for Detecting HABs and their Toxins , sponsored by ACT, CICEET and Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. In recognition of the region-specific nature of harmful algal species and toxin distributions, the varying maturity of harmful algae monitoring approaches and programs, and the diversity in technology/methodology user needs, the current RFT is being refined to encourage participation in and focus resources on two regional efforts.

To support the development and adoption of new technologies and methodologies to detect and quantify harmful algae and their toxins, ACT will support and collaborate with the California Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Alert Program (HABMAP) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) on planned efforts. Applications submitted to the original ACT RFT will be incorporated in to these other programs (upon agreement of applicants) and we will work to assure broad community involvement in the exercises described below.

HABMAP represents a consortium of managers and research groups working to build monitoring network to better assess impacts of harmful algal events on coastal resources along California and by design the entire west coast. A necessary first step in supporting development of such an integrated monitoring network is to support the design and implementation of an inter-comparison study for current and emerging toxin detection and species identification methodologies. ACT will work with HABMAP to develop and conduct this technology inter-calibration exercise in field sites and facilities around Monterey Bay being planned for 2009. Participation from groups outside the west coast region with methodologies targeting local species of concern (e.g. Pseudo-nitzschia spp.; Alexandrium spp.) is encouraged.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission s FWRI investigates and monitors Florida red tide and other harmful algae in coastal and estuarine waters around the state, and studies how harmful algal blooms affect natural resources and human health. In collaboration with others, FWRI will be organizing and conducting a harmful algal bloom technology assessment, focused on species of concern in Florida (e.g., Karenia brevis). ACT will work with FWRI to design and carryout this assessment, which will take place in 2009-2010.