Appraisal and Identification of Algal Bloom Region, Prevention and Management Approaches

Algae is a photosynthetic ubiquitous organism that can be grown in numerous forms. Being photosynthetic in nature algae serve as a source of oxygen, and food and also act as indicators of pollution. So, algae seem to be quite beneficial for the aquatic ecosystem but—excess of everything is bad. Exaggerated growth of algae leads to the formation of blooms known as algal blooms. The high inflow of nutrients in a water body is the primary cause of algal blooms. Algal blooms lead to various socio-economic impacts such as toxicity to humans and aquatic biodiversity and thus these blooms are also termed as harmful algal blooms (HABs). For proper management of algal bloom regions, the first step is to identify the cause and then methods like aeration, biological augmentation, and proper disposal of organic wastes that can be used to prevent algal bloom formation. The scientific community should explore more about finding a sustainable way to prevent algal bloom. In the present book chapter, the basic concept of algal blooms is discussed along with methods for appraisal and identification of algal bloom regions. Moreover, the prevention and management strategies for algal blooms are also highlighted. This chapter also emphasizes various impacts of algal bloom on water, aquatic diversity, and humans. The algal bloom is also discussed through the lens of sustainability.