Be sure to also read the special Red Tide Bulletin: Spring 2020 

Pseudo-nitzschia - C-HARM tells us where conditions are suitable for species of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (all size classes) to grow well and where they might be more likely to produce the deadly neurotoxin, domoic acid (DA). The predicted suitable habitat for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. in the first month of 2021 suggested widespread suitability throughout the state for Pseudo-nitzschia to grow and reach bloom levels. In other words, C-HARM is predicting positive habitat suitability for the genus Pseudo-nitzschia in most parts of coastal California much of the time, something that is corroborated by the frequent presence of Pseudo-nitzschia species in water samples at nearshore sites. Given ongoing COVID-19 sampling restrictions and delays that continue to hamper our ability to acquire timely HABMAP observations from piers, not all piers are currently providing data, but we do know that bloom levels for both the toxigenic and nontoxigenic size class of Pseudo-nitzschia were observed only at Newport Beach Pier by the end of January and were just below bloom levels for much of January at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. The relatively nontoxigenic "delicatissima" size class was elevated at Cal Poly Pier in San Luis Obispo but did not reach operational bloom levels. The Relative Abundance Index (RAI) for the Pseudo-nitzschia 'seriata' size class recorded by the CDPH reached moderate ("Common") levels in and around San Francisco and Tomales Bays, signaling a drop in cell abundance from what it was the previous month.

Moderate to very high C-HARM probabilities (50-100%) for particulate domoic acid (pDA) were predicted at different times for several sections of the California coastline in January. Hotspots developed near San Francisco Bay and moved both north and south over the course of the month: Humboldt and Del Norte Counties followed by the Mendocino and Sonoma coastline, central coast and areas surrounding Monterey Bay, the Santa Barbara Channel, San Pedro Bay and much of the Southern California Bight to San Diego. Particulate domoic acid data from HABMAP was not yet available for any site. Similar patterns were predicted for cellular DA (cDA) risk as those for pDA, although often with a greater offshore extent and with higher probabilities in the Southern California Bight areas around Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. The overall take-away the entire fall and winter has been that cDA probabilities were frequently high along the North and Sonoma Coasts (including areas adjacent to SF Bay), suggesting a possible issue there for domoic acid. Recreational shellfish advisories are still in place for Del Norte and Humboldt Counties due to high DA levels in razor clams, while a November safety notification for shellfish harvested in Mendocino County was lifted January 12th. The very high probabilities for pDA (and cDA) in central coast hotspots are consistent with the three California Sea Lion strandings from suspected DA toxicosis in San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties reported by The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC); no other regions reported suspected DA toxicosis cases in January.

Alexandrium -  CDPH observed very low abundances of Alexandrium spp. at sites sampled in January, consistent with HABMAP sampling. However, at the end of December, CDPH issued a PSP advisory for wild-caught shellfish in Marin County after lifting a similar advisory for Humboldt County.

*Please note that HABMAP sampling, CDPH sampling, and marine mammal rescues have been greatly reduced in response to COVID-19 safety measures.  

Santa Cruz Wharf

Four water samples were collected at Santa Cruz Wharf in January. Molecular probes for toxigenic Pseudo-nitzschia  in the "seriata" class are conducted for this site, and was not detected. Alexandrium spp. were detected once (Jan 6) but below the bloom threshold. Domoic acid results are not yet available.

The Santa Cruz Wharf shore station is supported by CeNCOOS PI Raphael Kudela at UCSC.

Monterey Wharf

Water sampling has been suspended at Monterey Wharf since March 2020 in response to COVID-19 safety measures. 

Monterey Wharf shore station is supported by CeNCOOS PI's Raphael Kudela at USCS and Jason Smith and Moss Landing Marine Labs.

Cal Poly Pier

Water samples were collected 4 times at Cal Poly Pier in January. Pseudo-nitzschia "delicatissima" was detected three times (Jan 11, 18, 25) and Pseudo-nitzschia "seriata" was detected once (Jan 25). All detections were below the bloom threshold value. Alexandrium spp. were not detected in any samples. Domoic acid results are not yet available. 

Cal Poly Pier shore station is supported by SCCOOS PI Ryan Walter and Ally Pasulka at Cal Poly. 

Stearns Wharf

No samples were collected at Stearns Wharf in January.

Stearns Wharf is supported by SCCOOS PI Mark Brzezinski and Libe Washburn at UCSB. 

Santa Monica Pier

Water samples were collected 4 times at Santa Monica Pier in January. Pseudo-nitzschia "delicatissima" was detected three times (Jan 4, 11, 26), Pseudo-nitzschia "seriata" was detected twice (Jan 4, 11) and Alexandrium spp. were detected once (Jan 26). All detections were below the bloom threshold. Domoic acid results are not yet available. 

Santa Monica Pier shore station is supported by SCCOOS PI Rebecca Shipe at UCLA.

Scripps Pier

Scripps Pier water samples are not yet available for April through January 2021.

Scripps Pier is supported by SCCOOS and PIs Melissa Carter and Clarissa Anderson at UCSD.