Principal Investigator: Kathryn Fiorella

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

In recent decades, marine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide have experienced an unprecedented frequency, scale, and variate of harmful algal blooms. Despite worldwide increases in severity and frequency of cyanobacteria-producing harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), the impacts on people in developing nations and communities that depend on fisheries are poorly understood. We propose to integrate analyses of fishery food webs and fisher responses to cyanoHABs to diagnose how changing ecosystems and behaviors will translate into health and economic impacts. Our project will analyze fish samples from high and low bloom sites to assess how exposure to cyanoHABs will affect risk-benefit trade-offs in fish consumption across the food web. We will focus on trade-offs between toxicity from microcystins, the harmful compounds produced by cyanoHABs, and beneficial fatty acids within key food species. We will also use a composite of indepth interviews, food consumption surveys, and a consumer choice experiment to understand how fishers and fish consumers understand and respond to cyanoHABs and their risks. Project outcomes will include elucidating the broad need for microcystin standards for fish consumption, advancing risk-benefit thinking in the Lake Victoria community and beyond, examining the value of consumer communication strategies, and contributing to interdisciplinary sustainability education at Cornell. Our project will also have direct pathways to impact through assessment of effective communication approaches and analysis of health and economic impacts of poor Lake Victoria water quality. Partnerships with fishery and public health organizations, including the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and Kenya Medical Research Institute, will support impact through communication with fishing communities and fishers and policy strategies to improve Lake Victoria water quality