In Alaska, scientists supported by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science are monitoring a massive and unusual outbreak of the toxic alga Alexandrium and its related potent toxin that can accumulate in shellfish. When toxic shellfish are consumed they can cause a severe and sometimes deadly human illness called paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). To [...]
NOAA and University of Alaska scientists are monitoring levels of harmful algae near Juneau and Ketchikan and plan to track toxin levels in the area with biochemical tests. An outbreak of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) that began last week led to the hospitalization of someone who ate clams dug from a public beach. To respond [...]
National Centers of Coastal Ocean Science’s Mussel Watch partnered with the Chugach Tribe of Alaska to evaluate contamination levels in wild shellfish, and results show that those levels appear to be well within safe limits. As part of the study, Mussel Watch established criteria for extending traditional contamination testing to a wide variety of species [...]
Since the Exxon Valdez oil spill, native Alaskan Tribes have been concerned about contamination in wild seafood, an important part of their diet. According to Tribal representatives, because of those concerns, the Tribes’ traditional harvesting practices have declined, resulting in less healthy eating habits. Now, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) researchers are working [...]
The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have released a report that provides chemical contaminant, toxicity, and benthic organism information useful for management planning efforts and understanding the ecosystem of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Although the main portion of Kachemak Bay was relatively uncontaminated, elevated contaminant levels were found locally in Homer Harbor and Port Graham. [...]
Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science (NCCOS) recently traveled to Seward, Alaska, to launch a collaborative research project with the Alaskan Chugach community to help them determine if their shellfish are safe to eat. For many Chugach, the harvest of chitons, littleneck clams, cockles, and other shellfish form an important part [...]
Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science collected sediments in August for contaminant assessment, ambient toxicity, and infaunal community description to characterize chemical contaminant impacts in intertidal and near-shore waters in Kachemak Bay. Using NOAA’s protocols, the sediments will be examined for over 120 chemical contaminants, multiple bioassays, and benthic community analysis. The [...]
As a major part of the scientific and resource management collaborations with the Village of Port Graham, Alaska, scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science met with the local community and participated in the Wisdom Keeper Workshop on May 18, 2007. NCCOS scientists met with village Elders, members of the Village Council, and scientists [...]