Are you a lover of sea food delicacies? Then be aware of those served in California! An ocean algae is blooming across the seas sickening and killing birds, sea lions and dolphins, washing them up on shores from San Diego to San Francisco Bay.
These algae produce a toxic acid leading to the marine animals’ death and consuming them could threaten humans, the environmentalists fear. So, it seems eating sport-harvested shellfish and seafood that are caught between Santa Barbara and Orange County won’t be safe. The state also warned consumers form consuming them.
But, did we spare a moment to think on what or who are the actual culprits behind the merciless death of these marine life? – The blooming algae? No, it’s us – the humans — responsible for polluting the water leading to the increase in the water nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that trigger algae growth.
The poisoned birds have been taken to the International Bird Rescue Center in San Pedro.
The acid generally attacks the brain, leading, at times to seizures. Disappointed by the prevailing scenarios, director Jay Holcomb informed that the center might see seven birds at the maximum a week in previous seasons.
Killing seven, fourteen sea lions have been treated for domoic acid poisoning at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, with the Wetland and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach having received 73 sick or dead birds since last Sunday!
Reacting to the crisis, David Caron, who teaches in the biological sciences department at University of Southern California said,
There are conceivably thousands of animals being affected.
It seems, over fishing coupled with this algae death will slowly wipe the marine ecology of its resources and eventually disrupt it off its food chain. Domoic acid poisoning has already made 40 victims in the past week!
It’s time, we need to curb on our unmindful activities of polluting the marine water, jeopardizing the innocent creatures at the cost of our selfish interests.
Photo Credit: inkokomo