The Wrack: harmful algal blooms

Project Description

Red tide — the proliferation of several toxic algal species — has been affecting fish and shellfish fisheries in Maine for decades. People who eat clams or other organisms exposed to toxic algal blooms can suffer from amnesic or paralytic shellfish poisoning, conditions with symptoms such as short term memory loss, vomiting, disorientation, paralysis, and sometimes death. Early detection of harmful algal blooms is critical for protecting fisheries, resources, and public health in Maine and worldwide.