NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Harmful Algal Bloom Event Response program is supporting research to investigate the potential link between ongoing wildlife strandings at St. George, Alaska and a recent harmful algal bloom (HAB). Since early August, dozens of dead seabirds, including thick-billed murres, kittiwakes, and tufted puffins, along with sand lance, sculpins, and northern fur seals, have washed ashore on St. George Island. This alarming die-off follows the detection of an Alexandrium bloom in the southeastern Bering Sea in mid-July. Alexandrium species produce paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), such as saxitoxin, which can accumulate in marine food webs and endanger both wildlife and human consumers of affected marine resources. Rapid assessment of this event is vital to protect marine ecosystems, human health, and food security from the emerging threat of HABs in the Bering Sea.
In Alaska, communities and tribal organizations are responsible for response efforts. NCCOS HAB Event Response funds will directly support critical sampling and testing efforts to determine whether the recent wildlife mortalities are linked to PST exposure. The rapid response is paramount to informing public health and subsistence resource advisories. If confirmed, scientists will conduct more thorough environmental sampling of shellfish, fish, seabirds, and subsistence-harvested marine mammals to trace the movement of HAB toxins through the food web. These crucial data will inform future mitigation efforts and public awareness.
This response is a collaborative effort involving the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), NOAA Fisheries, US Geological Survey (USGS), Traditional Council of St. George Island, Aleut Community of St Paul Island (ACSPI), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), and the Alaska Ocean Observing System’s (AOOS) Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom (AHAB) Network.
The NCCOS HAB Event Response Program is a national program that provides immediate support to help state, tribal, and local officials manage events and advance the understanding of HABs as they occur. For more information about the NCCOS HAB Event Response Program, contact nccos.hab.event.response@noaa.gov.
The NCCOS HAB Event Response program is authorized by the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 4001 et seq.).
Please use the following hotlines if you notice anything unusual in Alaska:
- Human health concerns – If you are experiencing symptoms of shellfish poisoning call 911 or your local health care provider immediately. Alaska healthcare providers who suspect or diagnose a disease that represents a public health emergency should immediately call 1-907-269-8000 during business hours or 1-800-478-0084 after hours.
- Birds – For your safety, do not handle any sick birds or birds that are found dead. If you observe dead seabirds or encounter a sick or dead wild bird and the cause is not immediately apparent please call the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Alaska Sick or Dead Bird Hotline at (866)-527-3358.
- Marine Mammals – For injured/stranded whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and dolphins call the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Statewide 24-Hour Stranding Hotline at (877) 925-7773.
Partner Links:
- Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom (AHAB) Network, Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS)
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- Aleut Community of St Paul Island (ACSPI)
- Traditional Council of St. George
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
- Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team(COASST)
- Wildlife Algal-toxin Research and Response Network for the U.S. West Coast (WARRN-West), NOAA