Monterey Bay Harmful Algal Bloom

Hey fellow anglers,

Last week, oceanographers began reporting a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the southern Monterey Bay. This particular species of algae releases a neurotoxin - Domoic acid (DA), which can poison shellfish and baitfish... and then anything that eats them.

http://www.ksbw.com/news/toxic-algal-bloom-growing-rapidly-in-monterey-bay/33276962

Scientists in Moss Landing are requesting fillets to analyze for the neurotoxin, so they can 1) make sure fish are safe to eat; and 2) better understand the transport of the toxin from algae-->fish-->higher predators. I had them test a kelp rockfish fillet I caught in Stillwater on May 24 and it DID have traces of DA, but well below the regulatory limit for human health risk.

If you have any fillets you're willing to give up for science, please contact..

Zack (Environmental Biotechnology Lab, Moss Landing)
[email protected]
(831) 771-4125

No bueno 

Thanks for the warning

Hey Zack,

What about scallops...should I not be eating them right now?

Took a small one north of the carmel bay smca yesterday and ate it and didn't die...yet... 

Just curious.

Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Bummer I didn't see this yesterday...I gave a bunch of fish to my daughters soccer coach last night...would have give you guys some to test for sure!

Hey Zack,

What about scallops...should I not be eating them right now?

Took a small one north of the carmel bay smca yesterday and ate it and didn't die...yet... 

Just curious.

Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Bummer I didn't see this yesterday...I gave a bunch of fish to my daughters soccer coach last night...would have give you guys some to test for sure!

You won't die ... just keep a bathroom nearby 

Damn! Guess I shouldn't have cooked up ling nuggets for everybody at that party Saturday night

Whoops.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks for the info...

Send em' some of BigJim's blood!  Probably be able to make an antidote from it! 

I just inquired and was given this today:

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR15-038.aspx

Sounds like a selective few spices are not safe to eat, but most are still within safe levels.

Wonder if this has anything to do with the big "shit spill" from Memorial weekend

No

I was actually talking to one of the scientists from moss landing who was buying striper tackle. He said they're seeing a lot of the effects in sea lions acting very strange as a result of the algae. He said the majority of it is located a mile or more offshore so if your within that he said it's mostly fine but they're still doing research

I just inquired and was given this today:

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR15-038.aspx

Sounds like a selective few spices are not safe to eat, but most are still within safe levels.

I wouldn't rely completely on that list. CDPH is currently testing more fish species. This problem could easily encompass more fish. Through some inside info from the County Health Department and my own knowledge being a fisheries biologist...I'm not eating any fish in Monterey Bay