WA state USA: Sequim Bay algae that turned toxic stumps scientists

[Emily]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015994917_algalbloom24m.html

Sequim Bay algae that turned toxic stumps scientists

The arrival of a new strain of biotoxin in Northwest waters last month comes with more questions than answers and is likely to complicate the lives of shellfish gatherers and health officials.

By Craig Welch

Seattle Times environment reporter
[snip]
The toxin is produced by a family of marine phytoplankton, Dinophysis, that has been tracked in Washington waters for decades, but has never sickened anyone. The same family of organisms has caused illnesses in Europe and Japan for decades.

Marine-algae experts are struggling to figure out why it suddenly became poisonous here.....