Where have the fish gone ?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 28228.html

Algal bloom in west kills lugworms

A lugworm killed by an algal bloom, which has been identified as a type of Karenia red tide. It can also affect seabirds and other species including dolphins. But the bloom is said to be naturally occurring and poses no risk to humans. The Marine Institute said it is difficult to predict how long it will last
LORNA SIGGINS, Marine Correspondent

A MASS mortality of lugworms and shellfish on the west coast has been caused by a seasonal algal bloom, the Marine Institute said.

Thousands of lugworms have died on the north Mayo coastline since last weekend, while dead cockles have been found on the sand at Rossport, Glengad and Broadhaven Bay.

Marine Institute scientist Joe Silke, who runs the national phytoplankton monitoring programme, said the deaths were caused by an algal bloom or “red tide” which was toxic to bottom-dwelling marine species, such as shellfish and certain species of fish.

The bloom has been identified as a type of Karenia red tide, which can also affect seabirds and other species including dolphins. However, the bloom was “naturally occurring”, formed by phytoplankton or microscopic plants, and posed no risk to human health, Mr Silke said.

Some data here might throw some light on the problem.

http://www.marine.ie/home/publicationsd ... ummary.htm

Its the same story where i fish in Sligo dirty redish colour in the water along a fair stretch of coast line & the fish have gone, it seems to be spreading.

It is not surprising that many fish have left the are where a red tide has occured. It would be lethal for them if they kept feeding on their normal sources.

Domoic acid can bioaccumulate in marine organisms such as shellfish, anchovies, and sardines that feed on the phytoplankton known to produce this toxin. DA can accumulate in high concentrations in the tissues of these plankton feeders when the toxic phytoplankton itself is high in concentration in the surrounding waters.

In mammals, including humans, domoic acid acts as a neurotoxin, causing short-term memory loss, brain damage and, in severe cases, death.

There is no known antidote available for domoic acid. Cooking or freezing affected fish or shellfish tissue does not lessen the toxicity.

Amnesic shellfish poisoning symptoms and treatment: http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Domoic+Acid

Looks like the whole North West is a no go

So Guys, is this 'official' i.e. has it been announced/recognised by the environmental authorities ?

Looks like it's official,
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 28228.html

I wonder is there a satellite image of areas effected available anywhere on line?

Looks like it's official,
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 28228.html

Boxxloks ! That's my fishing screwed for a while ! I knew the fish weren't there, just didn't know quite why.....

Does anyone know if this is affecting the whole of the NW or how far up from Donegal, Ardara also ?

Ah well, at least that's a pretty solid excuse for me not catching fish.

I went ot the river last night to see about a sea trout - never, ever saw such a flood on it. Another reason for not catching anything!

I'm feeling bereft, does anyone know how long this is likely to last ?

Usally fish out of Portnoo whenever I fish in the salt. Wasn't down since April but was down the day before yesterday and noticed the Red/Brown mucky water. Also a very heavy smell but I was down at high water so I didn't notice any dead worms. If it is this red tide shite then the fishin' will be __ for a while. Does anyone know if the algae will affect returing Salmon? Hold Fast!

Has this algal bloom affected the fishing in the Connemara coastal region too?

Just got my new lures through the post................AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

BTW if I was to catch a fish from a 'Red Tide' would it be edible ?

I really hope this is not the case or if clears soon if it is. Last weekend the water on several marks near Lahinch in Clare was very red but I assumed it was just run off from the local rivers as usual.

I have seen the red tide in 2005 and its back big time lug beds around the streedagh area are starting to show casualties.......so fishing will be very poor!!!!!!

Usally fish out of Portnoo whenever I fish in the salt. Wasn't down since April but was down the day before yesterday and noticed the Red/Brown mucky water. Also a very heavy smell but I was down at high water so I didn't notice any dead worms. If it is this red tide shite then the fishin' will be __ for a while. Does anyone know if the algae will affect returing Salmon? Hold Fast!

I don't know how it will affect the returning salmon but it will certainly not do the sea trout any good as they tend to hug the coasts and estuaries and their food source has probably been decimated. I have a personal belief that it was the red tide that caused the last sea trout crash on the NW coast, though obviously cannot prove it. This is terrible.

Still Mac Pollock etc being caught off Culdaff Pier so Fingers crossed that it hasnt and wont come East of Malin Head

BTW if I was to catch a fish from a 'Red Tide' would it be edible ?

read my post above or do a search for 'domoic acid' - I certainly would not recommend eating anything infected by it, and this involves the entire food chain throughout

Folks,

Joe Silke of the Phytoplankton Unit in the Marine Institute here. Just saw your discussion regarding the bloom and impact on fish in Donegal. There is a bloom of Karenia mikimotoi in the area and we have a report of this up on the MI website. See http://bit.ly/LCgRAB . This explains the reduced fishing in the coastal region around Donegal Bay and also the dead lugworms / cockles that were mentioned on the discussion board. It is the same species of phytoplankton that caused the bloom in 2005, and is a regular summer species. These blooms have a considerable impact on marine organisms but are not toxic to humans. In 2005 the bloom was present along the coast duriong June and July, and a further bloom occurred in the Sw of the country during august.

With a bit of luck this might not last as long this time, but at the moment it is hard to predict how it will develop.

If anyone has any photos either of the discoloured water, or of dead shellfish / fish / lugworms, we would love to get copies of them as they are very useful for documenting these blooms.

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep an eye on the Marine Institute Website and we will post any updates as we get more information

Joe Silke,
Marine Institute, Renville , Co Galway