Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumToxic Algae Blooms Spreading Along West Coast From SoCal To Alaska - Likely Largest On Record
ANCHORAGE, Alaska The toxic algae blooms in the Pacific Ocean stretching from southern California to Alaska already the largest ever recorded appear to have reached as far as the Aleutian Islands, scientists say. The anecdotal evidence suggests were having a major event, said Bruce Wright, a scientist with the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association, the federally recognized tribal organization of Alaskas native Aleuts. All the populations [of marine mammals] are way down in the Aleutians.
While algal blooms are not uncommon in the Pacific, 2015s blooms appear to be the largest on record, scientists say. Stretching from Southern California to Alaska, the blooms are responsible for unprecedented closures of fisheries and unusual deaths of marine life up and down the Pacific coast.
Pseudo-nitzchia is one species of algae that produces domoic acid, a neurotoxin that can be lethal to humans and wildlife. The toxin is ingested by shellfish and krill that, when consumed, pass the toxin onto the predator in some cases, people. Raphael Kudela, a professor of ocean sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said climate change may be a factor enabling the blooms to thrive. I think, personally, its quite possible that these warm conditions just set up the ideal incubator conditions for this organism. Its doing really well and lasting a lot longer than usual.
In California, researchers in Monterey Bay observed some of the highest levels of the toxin ever seen. Oregons Department of Agriculture has shut down recreational harvest of razor clams along much of its coast. In Washington, authorities instituted an unprecedented closure of the states lucrative Dungeness crab fisheries. A fishery near Vancouver was closed in June over concerns of the algaes toxin, which can cause seizures and death if consumed by humans.
EDIT
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/8/1/scientists-fear-toxic-algae-bloom-continues-to-spread.html
djean111
(14,255 posts)Very bad bacteria, some deaths.
Let's just continue to pollute the heck out of the planet and ignore climate scientists for another 30 years cause yknow....profit or something.