Caution is key if you're thinking about dropping a line or taking a dip this weekend
A harmful algal bloom has spread across the San Francisco Bay, causing a massive die off of fish and potentially hazardous conditions for humans and pets coming into contact with the water. The bloom, known as a red tide, is currently impacting San Francisco Bay, Lake Merritt, and surrounding areas. It's not considered toxic to humans, but caution is key if you're thinking about dropping a line or taking a dip this weekend.
Heterosigma akashiwo is one of many species of algae that dwell in the Bay at all times, but blooms can be triggered by localized heat waves and environmental conditions created by wastewater effluvia in the Bay’s ecosystem. Along with other algae species, H. akashiwo is prone to seasonal flare ups, which often appear as a distinctive golden-brown or red streak in a body of water.
According to SF Baykeeper, a bloom of this magnitude has not occurred since 2004. And it’s not just killing fish – it's affecting the entire water column.Algal blooms kill fish in two ways. Blooms can induce hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, due to high concentrations of organisms that deplete dissolved oxygen in the water; or, algae can produce toxins that poison fish, killing them en masse.
“We generally recommend that people and pets avoid coming into contact with scum or discolored water as these organisms can cause skin, eye, or respiratory allergic or irritation reactions,” said Gilson. “Beyond those symptoms, the algae itself does not raise significant human health concerns. However, consuming fish found dead or dying is not advised.
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