C-HARM
Model 

HABMAP

CDPH Phytoplankton Data 

TMMC
Strandings Data 

Pseudo-nitzschia - C-HARM tells us where conditions are suitable for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (all size classes) to grow well and where they might be more likely to produce domoic acid. In October, the probability of a Pseudo-nitzschia spp. bloom was still high all along the coast with low offshore probabilities in the Southern California Bight. Time series of the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Alert Program (HABMAP) data are plotted below for all of 2018 through November to give a seasonal perspective. For the month of November, these data show some peaks in Pseudo-nitzschia abundance early in the month at most sites where we have data. The smaller ("delicatissima") size class of Pseudo-nitzschia reached bloom levels at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara and Newport Pier. The highest CDPH measurements of Pseudo-nitzschia were found in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, outside Golden Gate, and in Humboldt County.

Domoic Acid - C-HARM predicted the highest likelihood of particulate domoic acid (pDA) production in the Southern CA Bight and the offshore region of central CA, and even higher probabilities in the nearshore zone of the North Coast than for October. Cellular domoic acid (cDA) predictions, which should tell us where Pseudo-nitzschia cells are likely to be most toxic on a per-cell basis were elevated north of Pt. Conception, particularly the central and north CA coasts. The latter is consistent with the delay of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in counties north of San Francisco, e.g. Sonoma and Humboldt Counties and the shellfish advisory in Humboldt County. Sea lion strandings from DA toxicosis recorded by The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito went down from five animals in October to four animals in November, all from the central CA coastline. It is difficult to know in which offshore or nearshore environment the animal acquired the DA, but given the elevated DA probabilities offshore central CA (and particularly cellular DA), it is likely they were feeding offshore.

Alexandrium - Much like the trend in the time series from the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Alert Program (HABMAP) data into October, Alexandrium spp. percent composition from CDPH showed no acitivty in November, and the HABMAP data were consistent with that. There have been no PSP alerts from CDPH or CDFW.

C-HARM Model

HABMAP Observations

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf

Cal Poly Pier

Stearns Wharf

Santa Monica Pier

Newport Beach Pier

CDPH observations for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and Alexandrium spp.

From 1-30 November 2018, water samples were collected by volunteers and sent to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for analysis. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were detected in 34 of the 89 samples. Percent composition of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was greatest on November 20th at Hunter Rock and November 1st at Port San Luis (30% and 11% composition respectively). Alexandrium spp. were detected at low levels (<1%) in 5 of the 38 sites sampled. You can also view CDPH weekly map layers of Pseudo-nitzschia and Alexandrium here.

Note the annual recreational mussel quarantine is no longer in effect. CDPH issues a health advisory in early November not to eat Dungeness crab viscera in state waters near Bodega Head and Russian River in Sonoma County. On November 18, CDPH lifted health advisories related to sport-harvested mussels, whole scallops, and clams (other than razor clams) in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.For the latest closures and updates, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Health Advisories page.

Data are provided by the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Management Branch.