Safety & Sanitation
Quick Link Resources
How to look up Growing Area Classification and how to be notified of condemnation change. Click here.
Red Tides and Die-Offs
TOGA is embarking on a long-term monitoring partnership with researchers at VIMS in two key areas: Oyster Mortality and Harmful Algal Blooms or HABs. TOGA members can provide observations from a wide variety of field sites that could prove to be key in the understanding of mortality events and harmful algal bloom events Bay-wide. VIMS asks TOGA volunteers to be alert for two possible events:​
1.
Oyster mortality events. If you suspect your oysters are dying at a rate higher than "normal," we ask you to contact Dr. Ryan Carnegie at VIMS, PO Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 or Carnegie@vims.edu. Be aware that he may contact you to obtain samples for disease analysis.
2.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs), often called "Red tides" or "Mahogany tides." If you see patches of discolored water not due to runoff, please fill out the VIMS HAB reporting form immediately and monitor the event. The form can be submitted online by visiting the VIMS reporting webpage. Someone may contact you to come and take samples. For more information on Virginia HABS, as well as sampling and reporting protocols, click here.