MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Why this year’s toxic algae blooms in Washington are different

Jun 16, 2015, 6:37 AM | Updated: 2:14 pm

A sea lion experiences seizures, caused by eating fish that in turn feed on toxic algae. it is the ...

A sea lion experiences seizures, caused by eating fish that in turn feed on toxic algae. it is the first time NOAA has witnessed a sea lion experiencing seizures from domoic acid. (NOAA)

(NOAA)

Washington’s waters are seeing more toxic algae this year than in the past decade.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists set out Monday on an ocean research expedition in hopes of getting some insight into why.

Almost every year a toxin that can cause paralysis shows up in algal blooms in Washington and this year is no exception. But what has oceanographers scratching their heads this summer is the high levels of a rarer toxin, called domoic acid. It can cause amnesiac shellfish poisoning and that can mean nerve damage.

The first case of amnesiac shellfish poisoning was identified in 1987 on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Vera Trainer with NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle said about a hundred people ate mussels contaminated by the toxin.

“Three people died and there were several people who suffered from permanent short-term memory loss,” Trainer said. “An example was a physics professor who remembered his lectures, but his short-term memory was gone. He couldn’t remember where he parked his car, where he ate breakfast, whether he saw the sunrise that morning.”

All of a sudden this year, Trainer says, the domoic acid levels are through the roof in Washington waters and throughout the West Coast &#8212 from the central California and possibly all the way up to Alaska.

“Folks who were out on the coast doing monitoring of this harmful algae were asking, ‘What’s going on? Why aren’t we seeing anything?’ And then ‘bang!’ Here we have it after a decade of being completely quiet,” Trainer said.

The toxic algae is a big hit to the state’s shellfish industry. The entire southern coast of Washington is closed to crab fishing, an unprecedented stoppage that estimates the economic loss in the multi-millions.

Washington’s razor clam digging season was forced to end early this year. That, according to state estimates, cost coastal communities $9 million in revenue, just in May.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

7 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

8 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

9 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

9 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

11 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

13 hours ago

Why this year’s toxic algae blooms in Washington are different