Donald Anderson, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, spoke to the Falmouth Water Quality Committee on Monday, May 2, about harmful algal blooms in the New England and Cape Cod region that have the potential to impact Falmouth.
Potential problems arise when algae die in blooms close to shore and bacteria proliferate in the decay. While not all of the microorganisms are toxic, the decay can cause issues that can damage or kill marine life and sometimes humans.
“There are some serious worries out there that are all around you but not necessarily right here in Falmouth,” Dr. Anderson said.
The algae blooms, species known as Mahogany tides or the red tide, cause discoloration in the water, with some patches large enough to be seen from space. Many decaying blooms can consume large quantities of oxygen near shore, killing nearby marine life.
Not all algal blooms are visible. Some can impact marine life, particularly shellfish, without any water discoloration or clear signs of toxins present. State marine centers have closed Buzzards Bay in previous years to prevent people from collecting shellfish that have accumulated toxins from the algae.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning from red tide can come in large blooms in estuaries like those in Falmouth. Paralytic shellfish poison is potentially fatal and, according to Dr. Anderson, common in the region. He said the toxin is usually in shellfish and is present in Buzzards Bay and Massachusetts Bay.
“The threat to Falmouth has not gone away,” Dr. Anderson said.
Amnesic shellfish poisoning causes permanent short-term memory loss and once caused a shutdown of shellfishing in Buzzards Bay.
Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, which explains itself, was seen in Salt Pond in Eastham in such large numbers that the state closed the pond.
But the state does not monitor in Falmouth. Dr. Anderson said that, while there are nearby monitoring stations in Barnstable and Hyannis, Falmouth is not being monitored because state agencies do not believe there is cause for concern.
“What I’m telling you is that there’s still a risk there,” Dr. Anderson said. “They’re not being looked at very carefully.”
Aside from toxins, damaging blooms can cause pungent seaweed clusters that trap jellyfish and crabs that can hurt swimmers. Freshwater blooms can leave toxins in freshwater fish and swimmers. Dr. Anderson said all blooms are exacerbated by the changing and warming climate.
“This is a problem that isn’t going away and is very likely to get worse,” Dr. Anderson said.
Water quality committee member Jordan Mora asked Dr. Anderson how Falmouth can get the state Department of Marine Fisheries to monitor Falmouth for toxins. Dr. Anderson said the state will only come to Falmouth for measurements if there is a large issue that demands attention.
“People have to get sick,” Dr. Anderson said. “We need an outbreak.”
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