Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County Jail inmate sentenced in sex-for-contraband scheme ... Walden gets front line input on mental health issues ... A snapshot in time ... Jackson County Jail inmate sentenced in sex-for-contraband scheme ... Walden gets front line input on mental health issues ... A snapshot in time ... WEST COAST UPDATED: Wildlife tainted by toxin in West Coast algae bloom; Oregon advisories issued Affected animals include whales, dolphins, seabirds and seals Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Nov. 3, 2015 at 3:52 PM Updated Nov 3, 2015 at 5:40 PM By The Associated Press Posted Nov. 3, 2015 at 3:52 PM Updated Nov 3, 2015 at 5:40 PM » Social News SEATTLE — Tests on dead or dying marine wildlife show the animals were exposed to a vast bloom of toxic algae that flourished off the West Coast this summer, federal biologists said Tuesday. Scientists detected domoic acid — a neurotoxin produced by the marine algae and is harmful to people, fish and marine life — in more than three dozen animals from Washington to California, including whales, dolphins, seabirds and seals. Several were found to have dangerous levels of the toxin, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Meanwhile, high levels of domoic acid continue to be found in shellfish. On Tuesday, California health officials advised people not to eat Dungeness or Rock crabs caught between the Oregon border and the southern Santa Barbara County line because tests showed dangerous levels of domoic acid. Oregon state officials also issued an advisory Tuesday for all recreationally caught crab along the Southern Oregon coast, from south of Coos Bay to California. Officials warned people to remove the viscera, or guts, before eating the crab meat. Last month, Washington shellfish managers postponed the fall start of razor clam digging on ocean beaches and all razor clamming remains closed along the entire Oregon coast because of high level of domoic acid. The toxic algae bloom emerged last spring and flourished during the summer amid unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures. It was the largest and most widespread ever recorded on the West Coast and shut down lucrative fisheries, according to NOAA. Sea lions in California commonly experienced seizures, a common sign of domoic acid poisoning, during harmful algae blooms along that state's coast. But this was the first year that such harmful effects were documented as far north as Washington state, said Kathi Lefebvre, a research biologist with the NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. "My biggest concern is — what does the future hold?" she asked. Domoic acid accumulates in anchovies, sardines and other small fish as well as shellfish that eat the algae. Marine mammals and fish-eating birds in turn can get sick from eating the contaminated fish. In people, it can trigger amnesic shellfish poisoning, which can cause permanent loss of short-term memory in severe cases. Health officials stress that seafood bought in stores is still safe to eat because it is regularly tested. Researchers said the number of animals found exposed to domoic acid may be a small fraction of those affected since many others don't wash ashore or aren't found. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Nov. 3, 2015 at 3:52 PM Updated Nov 3, 2015 at 5:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501