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Posted on February 14th, 2013 in Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Outreach, Technology Transfer
As part of a pilot initiative known as “beach hazard statements,” NOAA’s National Weather Service in Tampa Bay began to issue red tide warnings to beachgoers in an area where a bloom of algae is responsible for causing fish kills and breathing problems in people. While the announcement is new, the forecasts themselves are well [...]
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Posted on December 18th, 2012 in Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Marine Biotoxin Impacts, Technology Transfer
NOAA Fisheries now allows clam harvests in an area of Georges Bank off limits for the last 22 years to protect people from getting ill from algae toxins. Their decision centers on a two-part testing protocol that commercial fishermen and labs will use before bringing a catch to market. Once the haul arrives at the dock, [...]
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Posted on October 25th, 2012 in Ecology & Oceanography, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, International, News Clips, Technology Transfer
It was 25 years ago this month that more than a hundred people were sickened on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Three people died. Days later it was confirmed they suffered from a domoic acid in locally cultivated mussels. Domoic acid in high levels can cause immediate neurotoxin reactions like spasms or seizures or memory loss, [...]
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Posted on October 17th, 2012 in Harmful Algal Blooms, International, Outreach, Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, Rapid Response, Sensor Development, Technology Transfer
As part of a formal agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, two researchers from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science visited Muscat, Oman this week as “IAEA Experts.” The seminar provided the 15 participants with an overview of algae and toxin sampling techniques and visual identification of algae species. Next March, the Americans return [...]
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Posted on June 28th, 2012 in Human Health, News Clips, Outreach, Technology Transfer
Transcript NARRATOR: When you’ve got a bacterial infection like pink eye or strep throat, your doctor will usually write a prescription for antibiotics to make you feel better. But have you ever wondered where these medicines come from? Most drugs come from flowers and plants on land, but finding new sources is difficult. And some [...]
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Posted on June 20th, 2012 in Coral, Ecosystem Management, International, Technology Transfer
Resource managers are faced with environmental changes that threaten the health and vitality of coral reef ecosystems as a result of expanding coastal development, tourism and new industries in many Caribbean nations. To assist coral reef resource managers in their mitigation and conservation efforts, NCCOS, through the Coral Disease and Health Consortium with funding support [...]
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Posted on May 21st, 2012 in Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, International, Physiology, Molecular Ecology, Technology Transfer
Researchers from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science developed effective, inexpensive molecular lab tests for field samples to detect algae responsible for a widespread seafood-borne illness. In this month’s Journal of Phycology, the scientists describe assays to detect and quantify six species of Gambierdiscus that cause ciguatera fish poisoning in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and [...]
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Posted on May 7th, 2012 in Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, News Clips, Sensor Development, Technology Transfer
Bruce Keafer calls it a robot in a box. Roughly the size of a kitchen sink, it was lowered into the waters off Portsmouth, N.H., last week, where it will sample marine organisms to measure toxic red tide cells over the next 45 days. The device, he hopes, will be a tool for forecasting outbreaks [...]
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