Sea lions, dolphins, now whales: Ocean giants are the latest victims of Socal toxic algae blossom
Officials said a small whale swimming in Long Beach Harbor died of domiic acidosis associated with a toxic algae bloom that has suffered from many other marine life, officials said.
Michael Milstein, spokesman for the West Coast Regional Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the test results showed high levels of domoic acid in the urine when the whales died.
“This is consistent with many other marine mammals we see, and we are also affected by the polysaccharides produced by the flowering of harmful algae in Southern California,” Milstein said in a statement. “Since the lab is processing a lot, it takes longer to test.”
Domoic Acid is a neurotoxin produced by the flowering of harmful algae that accumulates in filtered water (including anchovies and sardines) and is then eaten by seals, sea lions and dolphins.
According to Milstein, this is the fourth consecutive year of second-line acid incident, but this year began much earlier than previous events. He said the blooming of algae is the result of ocean rise, which brings enough nutrients to the surface to allow the algae to flourish. Other experts also pointed to climate change and the recent runoff in the fires in Palisades as contributors to Algae Bloom.
Hundreds of sea lions and dolphins have been affected so far, Milstein said.
“This is probably the worst, especially at the beginning of the year,” he said. “How long does the problem last.”
Milstein said the 24-foot-long whale swam in the harbor for a few days and officials tried to push it into the sea and just wanted to come back. The whale was male and was found dead on April 3.
According to Minke Whales, considered the smallest large or Baleen, the whales family can grow up to 26 feet and weigh up to 14,000 pounds. NOAA.
There are about 900 minutes of whales near the coasts of Oregon, Washington and California. They're in Marine mammal protection law.
Last week, a dead gray whale was also found on Huntington Beach. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the animal.
According to the Marine Mammal Center, although most marine mammals affected by polysaccharide toxicity are California sea lions, other animals are also susceptible to their effects.
Polysaccharides were found in blue and humpback whales and in Guadalupe fur seals, a threatened species.
Intake of polysaccharides from harmful algae blooms can cause seizures of sea lions and other animals or start the head with a movement called “star calculus.” They can also fall into a coma. Experts advise people not to interact with animals considered sick, as they can actively sting and even bite people.
Milstein said the polysaccharide incident is unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall population of marine mammals on the West Coast.
“There is a silver lining for the incredible productivity of the California ecosystem,” he said. “On the one hand, it is feeding algae, but it also creates an incredible diversity of species we are lucky enough to be on the West Coast. These species are very powerful and resilient, and they have shown up in the year.”
