A species commonly referred to as “red tide” has been spotted around B.C. coastal waters over the past month.

Regional monitoring program notifies shellfish harvesters of an upward trend in concentrations of PSP.

On this occasion he did not just vomit once, but over and over, combined with severe diarrhea and fatigue.

Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) found in the bay near Platinum, slightly north of usual species range.

Tests reveal concentrations of toxins in the shellfish the dogs ate was up to 27 times the safe limit.

Three of the walruses had low to moderate levels of saxitoxin, while the fourth one had high levels.

Walruses were found washed up on the beaches from Cape Espenberg to Shishmaref and further west. Samples taken from the intestines of four walrus all had moderate to high levels of saxitoxin.

No one really knows why algae put so much effort into making poisons. Alexandrium makes saxitoxin, and causes PSP. Another algae called Pseudo-nitzschia produces domoic acid, the source of amnesiac shellfish poisoning.

Warning: (2016-11-07) Recreational anglers should avoid consuming the viscera (internal organs, also known as “butter” or “guts”) of dungeness crab

Extremely high PSP levels

Declining after years elevated.

Unusually high PSP toxin levels making shellfish unsafe to eat.

Community wonders about cause of illness.

A large number of bird die-offs

Dead sea otter and star fish

Murre deaths reported along the shore of Nanwalek.

Dead birds on beach

Dead seagulls, puffins, murres

High PSP in clams - Sand Point, Alaska, USA