SF Bay Harmful Algae Bloom 2022

This project is to collect observations of dead organisms related to the 2022 Harmful Algae Bloom in the San Francisco Bay.

Please add any organism that appears to be dead related to the algae bloom

Best estimate I have for when the algae bloom started is August 2nd
Local news papers began reporting on it a week later
A massive >100,000 dead fish even occurred at Lake Merritt starting August 28th
Dead sturgeon have been reported all across the bay along with striped bass, bat rays, and lots of smaller fish. Yellowfin gobies seem very susceptible.

Heterosigma akashiwo has been the primary algae associated with the bloom. There is still some debate about whether or not it produces a toxin (2015 paper really the only one claiming their might be). In the Lake Merritt die off the dissolved oxygen was <1 ppm so anoxic conditions is the definite driver of mortality. less ↑