Malibu Near Center Of Domoic Acid Hotspot
Written by 991KBU on August 22, 2018
Sea lions that wash ashore .. sick … at Malibu are often diagnosed with domoic acid poisoning.
And sometimes people are forbidden from eating shellfish and other delicacies form local waters … because of domoic acid.
What is happening … and why is it happening more often??
U S C has just released a major study … that blames increased sewage disposal and urban runoff for fertilizing a tiny marine algae … which blooms and produces domoic acid.
The study suggests that natural processes lead to the formation of blooms, they could be exacerbated by nutrients discharged from man-made sources, including runoff and sewage outfalls.
And local waters a re a hotbed.
The world’s highest domoic acid measurement in water ever was measured off San Pedro.
Domoic acid is ever-present offshore, either in shellfish or the water.
Some years it’s abundant, while other years it’s scarce.
Domoic acid in shellfish can occur at high concentrations off the coast of San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties, but it tends to be more prevalent in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties due to local environmental conditions.
And … warm water is bad for the algae …above 68 degrees and the algae and its toxin diminish.
The algae blooms are increasing in size and scope … and the study provides a “smoking gun” linking domoic acid to deaths of marine birds and mammals … according to the U S C scientists.
