Toxic Algae Bloom Kills Wildlife Along Calif. Coast
Ray Lopez Braindead Killfile the Pest
Toxic Algae Bloom Kills Wildlife Along Calif. Coast
KGO By Erik Rosales
Apr. 28 - KGO - Hundreds of California birds, sea lions and dolphins are
dying because of an algae bloom off the coast.
Environmentalists say the ocean algae produces a toxic acid and both
injured and dead marine life have been washing ashore from San Diego to
San Francisco.
Michelle Berman, assistant curator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural
History says marine biologists have documented 18 dolphin strandings in
the past three weeks.
Michelle Berman, S.B. Museum Of Natural History: "We're seeing one or two
a day, which is a lot of dolphins in this area, when we usually see only
one or two a month."
Scientists say the numbers are alarming. They're not only seeing dolphins
washing up on shore, but whales as well.
In early April, a 30-foot sperm whale washed up near Surf Point in Isla
Vista. Days later another whale washed up on shore in Ventura Beach.
Marine biologists here in the Bay Area believe an algae bloom is
producing a toxic acid that's killing ocean life.
Jim Oswald, Marine Mammal Center: "Anchovies and fish eat this particular
type of harmful algae and then marine mammals such as seals and sea
lions, dolphins and whales eat those fish and become really ill."
Currently the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito has several seals and sea
lions biologists are trying to nurse back to health as a result of the
bloom.
Jim Oswald, Marine Mammal Center: "Sometimes the prognosis is not good,
if it's a long term case, chances are they may actually die. It's about a
50 percent chance they will survive."
The state's department of health services issued an advisory, warning
consumers against eating sport-harvested shellfish and seafood caught
between Santa Barbara and Orange County.
Right now, Bay Area beaches are not included in that advisory.