Integrating multi-stage interventions for harmful algal blooms effective management

The frequent outbreaks of harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems, public health, and regional economies. Against the backdrop of ongoing global water eutrophication, the scale and distribution of HABs continue to expand, making them a critical environmental issue worldwide. Current control strategies-including physical, chemical, and biological approaches-have achieved varying degrees of success. However, most traditional approaches focus on emergency responses after bloom formation, overlooking the dynamic progression of the algal life cycle. Because algal cells at different growth stages exhibit distinct physiological characteristics and respond differently to control measures, this generalised strategy often results in low efficiency, high costs, and potential ecological side effects. Therefore, a shift in HAB management philosophy is urgently needed. This review proposes managing HABs according to four life-cycle stages (dormancy, germination, growth, and outbreak) and explicitly links these stages to monitoring indicators and control portfolios. A key innovative argument of this review is that effective HAB management must move beyond single-method, technology-oriented approaches towards a life-cycle-based precision management system, in which stage recognition, monitoring-informed thresholds, and multi-technology integration are combined within a coherent framework. Finally, the review outlines future research priorities, such as intelligent monitoring for accurate stage identification and exploring synergistic effects among methods, to advance precision control of HABs throughout their entire life cycle.