A minke whale that was swimming in the port of Long Beach earlier this month died of domestic acid poison associated with a flowering of toxic algae that has affected many other sea creatures, according to officials.
Michael Milstein, spokesman for the Regional Office of the West Coast of the Oceanic and Atmospheric National Administration, said the test results showed that the whale had high levels of domestic acid in the urine at the time of his death.
“This is consistent with the many other marine mammals that we have affected by the domestic acid produced by the harmful flowering of algae in southern California detected for the first time in February,” Milstein said in a statement. “The evidence takes longer since the laboratory is processing so many.”
Domoic acid It is a neurotoxin produced Due to harmful algae flowers that accumulate in anchovies and sardines that feed the fish with filter, which are then by seals, marine lions and dolphins.
This is the fourth consecutive year that has been a Domoic acid event, but this year it began long before the previous ones, according to Milstein. The flowering of algae was the result of a rise in the ocean that took enough nutrients to the surface to allow algae to prosper, he said. Other experts also point out climate change and runoff of recent fires in Palisades as taxpayers to the flowering of algae.
Hundreds of lions and marine dolphins have been affected so far, said Milstein.
“This has a more severe leg, particularly this at the beginning of the year,” he said. “How long is the question continues.”
The 24 -foot long whale was swimming in the port for several days and the officials had tried to push him to the sea, just to return, said Milstein. The whale, which is a man, was found dead on April 3.
Minke whales are considered the big ones, or the whale family, and can grow more than 26 feet and weigh so many axis 14,000 pounds, according to NOAA.
There are about 900 minke whales on the coast of Oregon, Washington and California. They are protected under the Marine mammal protection law.
Last week, a Dead gray whale It was also found washed on land in Huntington Beach. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach is performing necropsy to determine the cause of the animal’s death.
Althegh, most marine mammals affected by the toxicity of domestic acid are marine lions in California, other animals are also susceptible to their effects, according to the marine mammal center.
Domoic acid has been found in blue and humpback whales, as well as the thick seals of Guadalupe, which is a threatened species.
The installation of Domoic acid from harmful algae flowers can cause marine lions and other animals to have seizures or shout their heads in a movement known as “Stargazing.” They can also fall into a comatose state. Experts advise people who do not interact with animals who believed they were sick because they could push aggressively or even bite.
Milstein said it is unlikely that the Domoic acid event has a significant effect on the general population of marine mammals across the western coast.
“There is a positive side for the incredible productivity of the California ecosystem,” he said. “On the one hand, it is feeding the flowering of algae, but it is also an answer for the incredible diversity of species that we are lucky to have on the west coast. These species are quite strong and resistant and have demonstrated it over the year.”
