A minke whale swimming in Long Beach Harbor has died from domoic acid poisoning linked to a harmful algal bloom affecting various marine creatures. Test results revealed elevated levels of the neurotoxin in the whale's urine. This marks the fourth consecutive year of such events, with this year's bloom starting earlier than usual due to nutrient-rich upswells in the ocean and factors like climate change and runoff from fires. Hundreds of sea lions and dolphins have also been affected, raising concerns about the bloom's duration and severity.
"This is consistent with the many other marine mammals we have seen affected by domoic acid produced by the harmful algal bloom off Southern California..."
"This has probably been the most severe, particularly this early in the year... How long it continues is the question."
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