From Oregon to New York, Virginia, and Florida, including many locations in between, toxic algae blooms in reservoirs lakes, and waterways have led to state officials issuing emergency declarations.
As warm weather approaches, health officials from the Pacific Northwest to the coast of Florida and on up the East Coast are warning shellfish lovers of the dangers of eating raw or undercooked oysters or other shellfish.
The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning over the dangerously high levels of domoic acid, a marine toxin, found in rock crabs and certain bivalves along beaches in the central part of the state.
Provo -
U.S. Geological Survey scientists spent last week studying how nutrients contribute to algae blooms in two major lakes in Utah. The study follows a massive algae bloom that closed Utah Lake a few weeks ago.
Palm Beach -
Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Martin and St. Lucie counties on Wednesday after beaches and waterways became clogged with a thick, guacamole-like blue-green algae.
Toledo -
Algae blooms in Lake Erie have become a common occurrence the past few years. The main cause is agricultural pollution, but putting the problem on Ohio's doorstep will not get the Lake cleaned up. It's going to take a concerted effort by several states.
A warning has been issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today cautioning the public over consuming wild shellfish found on Ireland's shores.
In 2016, over 40 lakes and waterways in California are covered in a toxic algae slime.
CA Water Board
Toxic algae blooms can wreck havoc on the environment.
Photo by: Dr. Jennifer L. Graham USGS
USGS
CA Water Board
Salton Sea, showing separated pools containing high concentrations of algae and bacteria
Raindrift
The green slime is everywhere, including being in some reservoirs.
CA Water Board
The effects of sea foam produced by a massive bloom of Akashiwo sanguinea algae. While the algae were nontoxic, the sea foam produced as a residue from the decaying organisms matted down the protective feathers of hundreds of migrating seabirds, exposing their skin to the cold sea.
Laura Miller, California Department of Fish and Game
