The Algae Blooms Off the California Coast Are Killing Dolphins and Sea Lions: They’re Caused By Treated Sewage, Fertilizer and Climate Change Warmed Ocean Water!

Dolphins and sea lions are being killed off the Central Coast of California by the thousands. Hundreds are dying every day. They are dying due to harmful algae blooms.  In this articles we’re going to show you these algae blooms are being caused by sewage, fertilizer and climate change.

I know that’s a lot. Let’s unpack it together.

We recently did a video on climate change being the cause of algae blooms off the coast of California. This algae is killing dolphins and sea lions. The increased ocean water caused by climate change is causing harmful algae blooms.

But guess what?

We may have been partly right.

But, that was before we read this UCLA study on how treated sewage is causing massive algae blooms.

Say what? Treated sewage? Yep. Let’s back up.

Treated sewage causing algae blooms … So how does this happen?

There are 23 million people that live between Tijuana Mexico and Santa Barbara. The produce tons of sewage each day. That’s a lot of poop, showers, etc.

The treated sewage is pumped off shore deep below the ocean surface. Since it’s treated, it was supposed to be fine for the environment. Not so, as it turns out.

The treated sewage contains nitrogen. Algae uses nitrogen in order to grow at a much higher rate. When the algae decomposes, they consume oxygen from the water, making it difficult for marine animals to survive.

There have been numerous studies showing increased nitrogen from agricultural fertilizer run-off causes algae blooms.

This new UCLA study is the first to link treated sewage with algae blooms and harming marine animals.

The UCLA study found:

“…that 97% of nitrogen added to the ocean from human sources is from wastewater.” From treated sewage, rives, and rainfall going into the ocean.

A trifecta – sewage, fertilizer and increased ocean temperatures and harmful algae blooms

It’s really a trifecta – sewage, fertilizer and increased ocean temperatures – are causing catastrophic ocean blooms that are killing dolphins and sea lions

According to a BBC report on algal blooms:

The explosive growth of algal blooms is linked to rising temperatures and rising pollution. These green waves are both a warning sign and a symptom of a changing climate. As farming fertilizer and a tsunami of human sewage hit our warming waterways, we are in danger of turning our very drinking water toxic.

By the way, some people say “algae blooms” and other people say “algal blooms.” I think we’re talking about the same thing.

As we explained in our video, shellfish, anchovies, and sardines eat the toxic algae. Then dolphins and sea lions eat the bait fish  (shellfish, anchovies, and sardines) and they become toxified. This is what happened in in 2015 along the West Coast and it’s what is happening right now.

It’s called domoic acid intoxication

As the BBC study reported, this is far from a United States problem, these trifecta algae blooms (caused by climate change/ warming ocean water, sewage and fertilizer) are happening all over the world.

“In short, more sewage and fertilizer being flushed into warmer waters by heavy rain hitting parched ground.”

These Trifecta caused algae blooms (sewage, fertilizer and warm ocean water due to climate change) have happened in the United Kingdom. China, Norway, Some say that the algae blooms in Lake Erie are the worst in the world.

What is an algal bloom?

Algae are photosynthetic microorganisms that are found in most habitats. Algae vary from small, single-celled forms to complex multi-cellular forms.

An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the density of algae in an aquatic system.

But algae blooms are a natural part of water ecology

That is correct. No doubt you’re going to hear this from the “climate change is a hoax” crowd. You know, the people that reject science because the politicians and television stations they watch tell them not to believe science.

Crazy isn’t it?

But what we’re seeing now are sewage, fertilizer and warm water driven algae blooms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that less than one percent of algal blooms actually produce toxins. Not all algal blooms are harmful, and some may actually be beneficial.

Harmful Algal Blooms

But that isn’t what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about harmful algal blooms — often referred to as HABs for short — occur when algae produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, birds, or other aquatic organisms.

The first harmful ocean bloom was recorded in Florida in the 1500’s. However, research shows that there has been an increase and intensity of algal blooms today due to environmental changes caused by humans.

Harmful algae blooms in California that are killing dolphins and sea lions are caused by treated sewage, fertilizer and climate change.

Harmful algae blooms in California that are killing dolphins and sea lions are caused by treated sewage, fertilizer and climate change.

What can we do?

First, we need to stop using our ocean as a sewer. 23 million people’s sewage is treated and then discharged into the ocean every day. We need to rethink this strategy. As we say, it’s up to teens to protect the ocean.

Second, we need to stop the fertilizer run-off into the ocean. This fertilizer isn’t just from agriculture, it’s also from homes, office buildings, golf courses, parks ,etc.

Finally, we need to reverse climate change. We know that when the ocean gets warmer there are more harmful algae blooms.

Please joins us at The Original Surfers. Together, we can make a difference.