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Scientists at NOAA’s National Centres for
Coastal Ocean Science and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research
Institute (MBARI), have successfully conducted the first remote
detection of a harmful algae species and its toxin below the
ocean’s surface. This achievement represents a significant
milestone in NOAA’s effort to monitor the type and toxicity of
harmful algal blooms (HABs) which are considered to be
increasing not only in their global distribution, but also in
their frequency, duration, and severity of their effects.
HABs damage coastal ecosystem health and pose
threats to humans as well as marine life. Climate change is
expected to exacerbate the trend, since many critical processes
that govern HABs dynamics, such as water temperature and ocean
circulation, are influenced by climate.
A MBARI designed robotic instrument called
The Environmental Sample Processor, or ESP designed as a
fully-functional analytical laboratory in the sea, lets
researchers collect the algal cells and extract the genetic
information required for organism identification as well as the
toxin needed to access the risk to humans and wildlife. The ESP
then conducts specialized, molecular-based measurements of
species and toxin abundance, and transmits results to the
laboratory via radio signals.
In the spring of 1998, a mass mortality of
sea lions in and around the Monterey Bay area was attributed to
the sea lions feeding on domoic acid contaminated anchovies.
Humans can also be affected by the toxin through consumption of
contaminated seafood such as shellfish.
 A
report with a picture of what was thought to be a marine turtle
walking down the beach toward the sea at Mexico Towans, was sent
to me in early August, but it was identified as a Terrapin. Lots
were imported at the time of the Teenage Ninja Turtle craze, but
have subsequently been released when the owners grew tired of
them or they grew too big. Bought the size of a 50p piece they
grow to a large dinner plate size. They are quite an alien pest,
eating fish and young water birds and carrying salmonella and
potentially other diseases. If found they should be captured,
(careful they bite, and hands must be thoroughly washed after).
They could then be offered to somewhere like The Blue Reef
Aquarium or Paradise Park, Newquay or other Zoos or the British
Chelonian Group has a rescue programme that ships them to an
enclosed reserve in Italy; alternatively euthanasia should be
carried out. They must not be released into the wild. The one in
question made it to the sea, but would not have survived long
there, for it is a fresh water species.
Bottlenose Dolphins were reported 9 times
during August, from Newdowns Head near St. Agnes on the north
coast to Carrick Roads, Falmouth on the south. 8 other reports
of unidentified dolphins were probably Bottlenose. There were 15
sightings of Common Dolphins, all reports from the Cape Cornwall
to Porthgwarra area except one sighting of 2 off Marazion. They
were seen in large pods off Gwennap Head, one report was of up
to 700 on the 16th, and 3 Risso's Dolphin were seen off Gwennap
that day, and 12 Whitebeaked Dolphins were seen off Fowey on the
2nd.
Of 31 reports of Harbour Porpoises, 23 were
between Cape Cornwall and the Minack Theatre and the other 8
sightings were between Falmouth and The Lizard. Basking Sharks
were reported 25 times, mostly of single sharks but there were a
few groups of 2, 3, and 5, but also 12 were seen off Gwennap
Head on the 29th.
Ocean Sunfish were seen 16 times, 12 of which
were between Cape Cornwall and Porthgwarra. Other sightings were
off Lowland Point, St. Agnes and on the wreck of The James Egan
Lane, and north of St. Ives. Grey Seals were reported 24 times,
all in the Gwennap Head area, largest group being 19 on the 4th.
Other creatures seen were A Leatherback
Turtle off Loe Pool Beach, Portuguese-man-of-War, 10 washed up
on Crinnis Beach St. Austell Bay and one off Cape Cornwall.
Columbus Crabs and Goose Barnacles and the Terrapin mentioned
above.
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