Ribbons of discolored water observed over Kizhuyak Bay that are likely related to a Noctilica bloom.
Nine short-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris) were seen floating in the Kuskokwim river, directly in front of Bethel. The birds were acting disoriented and farther up the Kuskokwim than normal.
An unseasonable rain event brought high rainfall and led to high water, especially around noon on August 3rd.
"We were lucky to have the berm in place. The next day, the water levels went down and the erosion was noticeable."
"Within a week we saw thousands of shearwaters along the beaches, and witnessed hundreds dead. They would sit on the tideline unable to walk, foraging on dead fish that had washed ashore and trying to feed on the fish in the nets of the set net sites as well."
A squat lobster (Munida quadrispina) was pulled up in a shrimp pot placed in Prince William Sound, which is not a common event. Squat lobsters are commonly found in Southeast Alaska during ADF&G shrimp survey pots and in scallop dredge surveys near Yakutat, Kayak Island, Kachemak Bay, and Kodiak.
Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is normally found in Prince William Sound and Kodiak Archipelago. However, it has recently appeared at the north end of Zachary Bay near Sand Point.
An unidentified substance was found washed up on the Summers Bay beach. Samples were sent to University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and are being tested.
Discolored marine waters near Haines may be reflective of the extremely high level of algae in southeast waters this month.
In July, Norton Sound water surface temperatures reached 68.2 DEG F on 7/10 and 69.3 DEG F on 7/11, which is about 17 degrees above average. The water was warm enough to comfortably swim in.
Hundreds of dead sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) found along the shores of White Sands Beach.
Little to no apparent management posed possible ecological and environmental health concerns.
Murres along Cape Thompson are migrating earlier, allowing coastal community residents to collect eggs a few weeks earlier than normal.
Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) observed near King Cove
A range of wildlife-related events have been occurring this month in Shishmaref and other parts of Norton Sound.
Late arrival of humpback whales may be related to a change in abundance of prey species.
Widespread mortality events that include more than one fish species are indicators that something is wrong in the environment.
Because of the increased travel distance, only families with larger boats were able to participate in the hunt and bring back enough to make the trip cost effective. With a heavier load in the boat, one family ran out of gas trying to get home and had to be rescued.
We did not see a single sea star in the Kachemak-side tide pools, and boulders we visit each year all looked a little vacant, with a lot of empty, critter-free space.
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