Harmful algae blooms are so common in the Pacific Ocean, they get their own acronym (HAB).
But the current bloom in the Pacific is decidedly uncommon: it spans much of the West Coast, and has forced shutdowns in shellfish fisheries.
The federal Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle observes and responds to algae blooms, and this one brings some of the highest levels of natural toxins ever observed, from California's Central Coast to Washington and even Alaska.
The head of the biotoxins program at NWFSC joins us with details of the findings and response.
