Oceanographic Update

Shellfish Hotline - A new toll-free shellfish information line became available in 1994. Call 800-553-4133 for up-to-date information on harvesting conditions and quarantine areas for bivalve shellfish throughout California. Although the normal quarantine period is May 1 through October 31, marine biotoxins may accumulate any time of year. The organisms responsible for producing paralytic shellfish poisoning and domoic acid poisoning were found throughout northern California in September, but no toxins were detected in shellfish samples. Because these organisms are present caution should be taken when harvesting bivalves to eat. Please call and reduce the chance of eating contaminated shellfish and being poisoned.

El Niño Watch - Residual above-normal sea surface temperatures persisted through June of 1994 from Mexico to Canada, with the exception of the San Francisco and Monterey areas which had cooled by May. A return to near normal conditions for the remainder of 1994 coupled with the neutral condition of indicators in the tropics shows that the after effects of the 1992-93 El Niño may have dissipated. A short period of strong upwelling was observed in July and August on the Mendocino County coast, filling our waters with clouds of organisms and reducing visibility for divers. Few unusual species were brought into the office in 1994 - although a giant squid was brought in and there were a few shark sightings in early fall. The sea state was somewhat rougher then in recent years. - WV

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