A minke whale swimming in the port of Long Beach earlier this month died of poisoning with domoic acid associated with a flowering of toxic algae which has struck many other sea creatures, according to officials.
Michael Milstein, spokesperson for the regional office of the west coast of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that test results have shown that the whale had high levels of domoic acid in its urine when he died.
“This is in accordance with the many other marine mammals that we have seen affected by Domo acid produced by the flowering of harmful algae off the coast of southern California detected for the first time in February,” Milstein said in a statement. “Tests have taken more time since the laboratory treats so much.”
Domoic acid is a neurotoxin produced by harmful algae proliferations that accumulate in the food fish of filters – including anchovies and sardines – which are then consumed by seals, sea lions and dolphins.
This is the fourth consecutive year, there was an acid Domo event, but this year started much earlier than the previous ones, according to Milstein. The flowering of algae was the result of an increase in the ocean which raised enough nutrients on the surface to allow algae to prosper, he said. Other experts also highlight climate change and runoff of recent fires in palisades as contributors to the flowering of algae.
Hundreds of sea lions and dolphins have been affected so far, said Milstein.
“It was probably the most serious, especially at the start of the year,” he said. “How long it continues is the question.”
The 24 -footed minke whale was swimming in the port for several days and the officials had tried to push it at sea, only to come back, said Milstein. The whale, who is a man, was then found dead on April 3.
Minke whales are considered Noaa.
There are about 900 Minke whales off the coast of Oregon, Washington and California. They are protected under the Law on the protection of marine mammals.
Last week, a dead gray whale was also found washed on the ground on Huntington beach. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center of Laguna Beach performs a necropsy to determine the cause of the death of the animal.
Although most marine mammals affected by the toxicity of domoic acid are California sea lions, other animals are also sensitive to its effects, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
Domoic acid was found in blue and humping whales, as well as Guadalupe fur seals, which is a threatened species.
Ingestion of domoic acid from harmful algae flowers can ensure that sea lions and other animals have crises or will grow in a movement called “star”. They can also fall into a comatose state. Experts advise people not to interact with animals that are considered sick because they could rush aggressively or even bite.
Milstein said it is unlikely that the Domo acid event has a significant effect on the global population of marine mammals off the west coast.
“There is a silver lining with the incredible productivity of the Californian ecosystem,” he said. “On the one hand, it feeds the flowering of algae, but it is also responsible for the incredible diversity of species that we are fortunate to have off the west coast. These species are quite strong and resilient and they showed it during the year.”
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