In the spring of 2015, a massive harmful algal bloom (HAB) of the toxin-producing diatom Pseudo-nitzschia occurred on the U.S. West Coast, resulting in the largest recorded outbreak of the toxin domoic acid and causing fisheries closures. Closures extended into 2016 and generated an economic shock for coastal fishing communities. This study examines the economic and sociocultural impacts of the Dungeness crab and razor clam fisheries closures on two fishing-dependent communities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 community members from two communities impacted by the event – Crescent City, California and Long Beach, Washington. Interviewees included those involved in the fishing, hospitality, and retail industries, local government officials, recreational harvesters, and others. Interviews probed aspects of resilience in economic, social, institutional, and physical domains, based on the contention that community resilience will influence the communities’ ability to withstand HAB events. Dimensions of vulnerability were also explored, encompassing sensitivity of the communities to HAB events and their adaptive capacity. Common themes that emerged from the interview responses indicate that economic hardships extended beyond fishing-related operations and permeated through other sectors, particularly the hospitality industry. Significant barriers to accessing financial and employment assistance during extended fisheries closures were identified, particularly for fishers. Long-held traditions surrounding crab and shellfish harvest and consumption were disrupted, threatening the cultural identities of the affected communities. Community members expressed a desire for clearer, more thorough, and more rapid dissemination of information regarding the management of fisheries closures and the health risks associated with HAB toxins. The likelihood of intensifying HABs under climate change heightens the need for actions to increase the resilience of fishing communities to the economic and sociocultural impacts caused by HAB-related fisheries closures.

在2015年春季，产生毒素的硅藻假奈茨菌的大量有害藻华（HAB）发生在美国西海岸，导致有记录的最大程度的毒素海藻酸暴发，并导致渔业关闭。关闭时间延长至2016年，对沿海捕鱼社区造成了经济冲击。这项研究考察了太平洋大蟹和剃刀蛤捕捞业关闭对两个依赖渔业的社区的经济和社会文化影响。对来自受此事件影响的两个社区的36位社区成员进行了半结构化访谈，这些社区分别是加利福尼亚的新月城和华盛顿的长滩。受访者包括那些从事渔业，酒店业和零售业的人，地方政府官员，休闲收割机等。访谈探讨了经济，社会，体制和自然领域的复原力方面，基于以下论点：社区弹性将影响社区抵御HAB事件的能力。还探讨了脆弱性的方面，包括社区对HAB事件的敏感性及其适应能力。访谈答复中出现的共同主题表明，经济困难不仅限于与捕鱼有关的业务，而且还渗透到其他部门，特别是酒店业。确定了在长期关闭渔业期间，特别是对于渔民在获得财政和就业援助方面的重大障碍。长期以来围绕蟹类和贝类的收获和消费的传统遭到破坏，威胁到受影响社区的文化身份。社区成员表达了更清晰，更彻底，以及更迅速地传播有关渔业封锁管理以及与HAB毒素有关的健康风险的信息。在气候变化下，HAB数量增加的可能性增加了采取行动提高捕捞社区对与HAB相关的渔业关闭所造成的经济和社会文化影响的适应力的必要性。