Image courtesy of Dr. Raphe Kudela (UCSC).
A satellite image displaying chlorophyll fluorescence as an indication of phytoplankton biomass. Areas of high fluorescence (yellow to red) mark areas where red tide symptoms could be observed on this day
(November 14th, 2007).

Image courtesy of Dave Jessup (CDFG).
A photo of foam associated with the red tide event near Capitola (11/11/2007).

Image courtesy of Santa Cruz Sentinel.
A western grebe is cleaned with Dawn dish soap by volunteers at Santa Cruz CDFG.

Local scientists, Raphe Kudela (UCSC), Mary Silver (UCSC) and Jason Smith (MLML), have been testing the Monterey Bay waters for organisms associated with the recent red tide events. On November 14, 2007, none of the scientists detected a red tide of the dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium, in Monterey Bay.

Since the beginning of September, Monterey Bay has seen a
number of red tides. Each of these red tides was dominated
by a type of dinoflagellate, but not necessarily the same dinoflagellate and are, therefore, different events. The most recent red tide was dominated by non-harmful organisms, primarily Akashiwo sanguinea and Ceratium species. There are currently very low or no concentrations of Cochlodinium, which can cause fish and shellfish kills (but is not toxic to humans).

An early red tide event in September, dominated by Cochlodinium, did cause a major mortality event in shellfish, but was not reported by the media. However, there are no toxins associated with the current bloom that began in early November.

Despite these scientific findings, Santa Cruz County Enviromental Health Service had received several complaints about illnesses apparently associated with swimming or surfing in red tide affected areas of ocean (see link below).

As reported by the Santa Cruz Sentinel (see link below), the red tide event is believed responsible for creating a layer of surface foam that has led to over 750 sickened and dead seabird appearing on Santa Cruz and Monterey County beaches in November. Santa Cruz CDFG isolated the proteins found on the injured seabird feathers as produced by algal blooms. The foam apparently coats the feathers of these birds and causes death by hypothermia. Area activitists and CDFG employees have been working to help these injured animals.

A group of interested parties (CeNCOOS, local scientists and resource managers) met in December 2007 at MBARI to discuss this issue. The group agreed that the foam that harmed seabirds was likely a product of the red tide. What caused the red tide event remains uncertain, but representatives at this meeting agreed to look into the source and movement of nutrients in the system that usually generate the blooms. View the meeting notes here.

This group plans to reconvene in Spring 2008 to discuss the matter further and hopefully reach conclusions about how humans play a part in these blooms.

Report illness from ocean exposure to SC County and view health recommendations

Report Injured/Dead Seabirds found on area beaches:
CDFG-MWVCRC, Santa Cruz (831) 469-1719 or Native Animal Rescue (831) 462-0726

Santa Cruz Sentinel Stories:
Nov. 30th Red tide/Mystery Spill/Bird deaths:
Nov. 14th Red tide story:
Video of seabird being cleaned at CDFG Santa Cruz

Center for Marine Technologies (CIMT) Response: http://cimt.ucsc.edu/outreach.htm

Further information, CIMT Fact Sheet 'Harmful Algal Blooms': http://cimt.ucsc.edu/factsheets/2HaB_Factsheet.pdf

For more information contact Heather heather@mbari.org.