Harmful algal blooms are exacerbated by the increased availability of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are often discharged from estuaries, which act as conduits for land-based pollutants. Monsoonal run-off further carries agricultural fertilizers and sewage into coastal waters, providing ample food for algal growth. While upwelling can bring nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, it is not typically considered a primary causative factor for the *increase* in harmful algal blooms in the context of anthropogenic pollution in Indian seawaters.