Harmful Algal Bloom and Fish Mortality San Francisco Bay
Aug 26, 2022
San Francisco Bay has been experiencing a major harmful algae bloom (HAB) event. Early signs of the developing bloom were reported in late July 2022 within the Oakland Estuary (between Alameda and Oakland). By early August, the bloom had spread to South Bay west of Alameda, and by mid-August expanded over large swaths of South Bay. Recent observations suggest the bloom may also be reaching into regions of Central and San Pablo Bays.
The HAB organism, Heterosigma akashiwo, can form blooms that have toxic impacts on fish and lead to fish kills. While fish mortality events were not observed during the HAB event's early stages, fish-kill reports began emerging around August 22, shared by researchers studying the bloom and Bay Area residents. To assess the HAB event’s impacts on Bay wildlife, documentation of fish mortality is urgently needed over the coming days and weeks. However, the Bay's size (area: 1600 mi2; shoreline: >300 mi) makes data-gathering a daunting challenge -- one that would benefit from for an ‘all-hands’ approach.
We are therefore seeking the assistance of Bay Area residents to report dead fish sightings. Please contribute to this regional effort: If you observe dead fish while navigating the Bay’s waters or traversing its shoreline, follow the link below, upload photo(s), and provide other relevant information about what you observe. Thank you!
Scientists from USGS CA-WSC, SFEI, and UC Santa Cruz are also closely tracking the bloom, to monitor bloom-related water quality impacts, and to understand the factors that promoted its growth and ultimately lead to its termination. Updates on water quality findings will be available shortly.
This citizen science project documenting SFB fish mortality is a collaboration between SFEI, Baykeeper, and UC Davis researchers, and supported by the San Francisco Bay Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS).
For additional information, please contact [email protected]
Associated Staff:
Programs and Focus Areas:
Nutrients
Related Projects, News, and Events:
Building a framework for an integrated HAB detection and monitoring system (Project)
Over the last decade, harmful algal blooms (HABs) have emerged as one of the highest-priority water quality management issues in the San Francisco Estuary, which includes the San Francisco Bay (Bay) and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta). Although major HAB events in the Bay have historically been rare, recent studies have determined that multiple HAB species and their toxins are frequently detected in the Bay, highlighting the potential for major HAB risks.
New $3 million grant to support harmful algae monitoring in the San Francisco Estuary (News)
NOAA recently announced that it is awarding a $3-million grant, through its Monitoring and Event Response Research Program (MERHAB) to support the development of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring program for the San Francisco Estuary. The project, led by scientists at the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), US Geological Survey, and California Department of Water Resources (DWR), will leverage on-going research and monitoring activities in the Bay and Delta to build a robust system-wide HAB monitoring program for the Estuary.