Why would commercial aquaculture monitor algal blooms? Algae are essential for life on Earth and for commercial aquaculture. But when some species bloom, they can cause harm. Some 5,000 species of microalgae form the foundation of aquatic food chains, help control atmospheric CO2 levels, and produce roughly half of the world’s oxygen. The troublemakers are approximately 250 species that can produce potent toxins or cause harm through their sheer biomass; a particular problem in the aquaculture industry where the presence of algal blooms can cause all stock to be lost. What is a harmful algal bloom? Algal blooms can: •Read more
