SoundHAB: Heterosigma bloom occurring in north Puget Sound

[Kevin and Kelley Bright]

Aerial observations conducted at noon Sunday out of Anacortes showed an extensive Heterosigma bloom occurring in the northern Puget Sound area. Brownish red water extends well north of Lummi Island toward the Canadian border and eastward toward Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay and Padilla Bay. Farm personel collected water samples at known hotspots near Jack Island and along the eastern side of Guemes Island. Cell counts on the east side of Guemes Island ranged from 3 million to 5 million cells/liter. Cell counts at the fish pens on the southeastern side of Cypress climbed from 220K/L at the surface in the early morning up to 400K by mid afternoon. Currently Heterosigma in the water column appears to be stratified with counts at 10 m depth being much lower (120K to 180K/L range). 

 

The Port Angeles area has also been seeing increasing counts of Heterosigma over the past 3 days but nothing in the millions as what is being seen eastward of Guemes Island. Below is the Saturday report from the Port Angeles farm manager.

Port Angeles Saturday Heterosigma cell counts . 

AM Counts at farm          Noon counts at farm                      Noon straits                       Boat Haven west end of harbor                 Francis park south side of harbor

1m. 200,000                        1m. 300,000                                        1m. 350,000                        1m. 230,000                                                        1m. 340,000

5m. 150,000                        5m. 300,000                                        5m. 390,000                        5m. 80,000                                                          5m. 290,000

10m. 70,000                        10m. 90,000                                        10m. 30,000                        10m. 230,000                                                      10m. 130,000

15m. 40,000                        15m. 20,000                                        15m. 20,000                        15m. 50,000                                                        15m. 110,000

 

Bainbridge Island in the south Puget Sound is reporting no Heterosigma in their plankton samples.

 

 

 

From: soundhab-bounces at whoi.edu [mailto:soundhab-bounces at whoi.edu] On Behalf Of Kelley Bright
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2011 3:31 PM
To: Vera Trainer
Cc: SoundHAB at whoi.edu
Subject: Re: SoundHAB: Pseudo-nitzschia in E. Sound, any Heterosigma in Puget Sound?

 

Heterosigma at cypress 400 / ml surface, 180 / ml 10m. Jack island 3200 / ml surfAce. PA similar levels in hbr. Red water north of Cypress to Fraser R., from air obs. Continuing samples at farms and hot spots. Will send updates.

Kevin

On Jun 24, 2011, at 8:50 PM, Vera Trainer <Vera.L.Trainer at noaa.gov> wrote:

Hello everyone,
Pseudo-nitzschia are at bloom concentrations in East Sound as per Nancy Alboucq and Margot Shaw (thanks to them!).  Nicky Haigh continues to observe Heterosigma in the Strait of Georgia, most recently near Nanaimo (her recent message below as a reminder).  Is anyone seeing Heterosigma in Puget Sound?

Thanks to all for your continued sampling and communications.  Vera

Nicky Haigh wrote: 

The Heterosigma akashiwo in Nanaimo is now a thick bloom, with water discoloration visible from Departure Bay to the main harbour.  Cell counts in samples from this morning range from 8000 – 20,000 cells/mL, but some patches appear much thicker this afternoon.

Nicky Haigh

Harmful Algae Monitoring Program

Rm 205, Building 373

Vancouver Island University

900 Fifth Street

Nanaimo BC V9R 5S5

CANADA

Ph: (250) 740-6354

Cell: (250) 537-7176

Nicky.Haigh at viu.ca



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-- 

Vera L. Trainer, Ph.D.

Program Manager

Marine Biotoxin Group

Northwest Fisheries Science Center

2725 Montlake Blvd. E.

Seattle, WA  98112 USA

 

(206)860-6788

(206)860-3335 FAX

vera.l.trainer at noaa.gov

www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/hab

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