A harmful algal bloom is currently causing a major fish kill in the San Francisco Bay Area. Experts are concerned about the extent of the ‘red tide’, including larger fish such as sharks. Triggers are microscopic algae that form toxic deposits on the surface and color the water reddish brown to dark brown.
The California Department of Health identified the alga as Heterosigma akashiwo (the second part of the name is Japanese and means “red tide”). It is considered a potentially harmful species found in coastal estuaries and marine ecosystems around the world.
A combination of pollutants from nearby sewage treatment plants, strong sunlight and warm water likely caused the growth of this algae species to explode in the Francisco Bay Area. The bloom has spread from Alameda, where it was first reported in late July, to San Francisco, Richmond and the South Bay, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
“This algae species needs water temperatures over 15 degrees Celsius to thrive, and the water around Alameda was above that temperature, but that’s not unusual for this time of year,” David Senn of the San Francisco Estuary Institute told the newspaper. newspaper.
Algal blooms are becoming more common due to climate change
It’s the first such bloom since the early 2000s, and researchers are trying to pinpoint the causes of such harmful algal blooms, which are increasingly common with climate change. Experts cannot yet predict when the algae, which are toxic to fish, will die off again.
The Californian authorities warn the public: Such a massive bloom of algae can also be harmful to people and pets. Water activities in the Bay Area are therefore discouraged, it said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
