NOAA Magazine: Marine Biotoxins Program (Story 116)
Harmful algal blooms have been recognized for producing toxins since earliest recorded time “…and the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that were in the river died; and the river stank and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river…” However, confirmation of marine biotoxins has historically been elusive due to non-specific symptoms, the complexity of toxin detection and undefined levels of impact to affected species. Fortunately, scientists from the NOAA Marine Biotoxins Programs on the East and West coasts have been investigating a diversity of toxins for over a decade.
