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Monster Algae Bloom Off Jersey Shore |
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A satellite has identified a monster algae bloom off the New Jersey coast that could soon affect fishing and beachgoers. Images from the NOAA satellite show a swirling blueish green blob stretching from Brooklyn past Sandy Hook all the way down to Cape May -- a distance of more than 100 miles. An arm of the bloom extends east from Long Beach Island for dozens of miles, then curls north and northeast across the middle of the New York Bight, also for a distance of about 100 miles. When the algae dies in the next week or so, it could cause a huge dead zone just off shore. "If there's no way for oxygen to be replenished, yes it could have an impact on fish," said Josh Kohut, an assistant professor at Rutgers' Marine and Coastal Sciences school. Kohut explained that, as algae dies and sinks to the ocean floor, it is eaten by bacteria. Kohut said the bloom was caused by an unfortunate combination of southwesterly winds that allowed the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters to come to the surface.
Read the complete story from MSNBC
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HASTINGS: Time to improve the Endangered Species Act
May 18, 2012 - When the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law in 1973 by President Nixon, he spoke about the importance of preserving “the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” I believe that goal is as important today as it was back then. However, after nearly 40 years, it’s time to take a fresh, honest look at the law and consider whether there are ways it could be improved to do a better job of protecting and recovering species.
