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• Major “Red Tide” Possible in the Gulf of Maine

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  Bernd Laeschke

  (not a XING member)

  Major “Red Tide” Possible in the Gulf of Maine

  Maine (Global Adventures): Scientists warn that a significant regional bloom of a toxic algae that can cause ‘red tides’ in the spring and summer of this year is possible, potentially threatening the New England shellfish industry. A survey conducted in late 2009 in the Gulf of Maine did show the highest amount of cysts ever measured, more than 60 percent higher than what was observed prior to the historic red tide of 2005.
  
  The 2010 bloom could be similar to the major red tides of 2005 and 2008, according to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) biologist Don Anderson, principal investigator of the Gulf of Maine Toxicity (GOMTOX) project.
  
  While the algae pose no direct threat to humans, the toxins they produce can accumulate in filter-feeding organisms such as mussels and clams, which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans who consume them.
  
  Red tides are the result of algae bloom events involving toxic or otherwise harmful phytoplankton such the dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense, an organism that produces saxitoxin, the neurotoxin responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning. Since such blooms often take on a red or brown hue, they are called “red tides”. Out of the 5,000 plus species of marine phytoplankton known today, only about 2 percent are harmful or toxic.
  
  You can find the full article on Global Adventures website at:
  
  http://www.global-adventures.us/2010/03/02/red-tide/
  
  • 03 Mar 2010, 4:07 pm
  Bernd Laeschke wrote: > Maine (Global Adventures): Scientists warn that a significant > regional bloom of a toxic algae that can cause ‘red tides’ in the > spring and summer of this year is possible, potentially threatening > the New England shellfish industry. A survey conducted in late 2009 > in the Gulf of Maine did show the highest amount of cysts ever > measured, more than 60 percent higher than what was observed prior to > the historic red tide of 2005. > > The 2010 bloom could be similar to the major red tides of 2005 and > 2008, according to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) > biologist Don Anderson, principal investigator of the Gulf of Maine > Toxicity (GOMTOX) project. > > While the algae pose no direct threat to humans, the toxins they > produce can accumulate in filter-feeding organisms such as mussels > and clams, which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in > humans who consume them. > > Red tides are the result of algae bloom events involving toxic or > otherwise harmful phytoplankton such the dinoflagellate Alexandrium > fundyense, an organism that produces saxitoxin, the neurotoxin > responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning. Since such blooms > often take on a red or brown hue, they are called “red tides”. Out of > the 5,000 plus species of marine phytoplankton known today, only > about 2 percent are harmful or toxic. > > You can find the full article on Global Adventures website at: > > http://www.global-adventures.us/2010/03/02/red-tide/