Is an ocean acidification dieoff already in effect?

Today's revelations regarding the oil sheen in the Athabasca River being a large Algae bloom are quite interesting. At first you might say, oh good, it's just Algae, but one has to wonder if maybe this is a preview of something bigger.

The massive amounts of marine die offs are continuing at a startling pace and have been for years now.

For instance:

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Two state agencies say algae blooms and a lack of oxygen in the water are responsible for a fish kill on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Dead fish started washing up early Monday on beaches in Hancock and Harrison counties and on Cat Island. That's according to a news release from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Marine Resources.

The chief scientific officer for the Department of Marine Resources, Kelly Lucas, says there were widespread areas of low dissolved oxygen. He also says there were high concentrations of microscopic algae that cause blooms known as "red tide." He says the algae are nontoxic but can clog the gills of fish.

The news release says hot summer temperatures can cause areas of very low or no oxygen.

And Alberta:

Consultants hired by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation say the algae bloom is probably the result of high water from record-breaking rainfall combined with unusually warm temperatures.

The scientists say dead fish floating on the river probably died as a result of oxygen starvation from the out-of-control algae growth.

Keep in mind this has been happening consistently for the past (how many??) years. Brazil , Lake Erie, all over.

Here is the IAEA on Ocean Acidification and "harmful Algae Blooms".

At first you might be relieved that the oil isn't oil, but rather a large Algae Bloom, at first, anyway...

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Richard Fantin is a self-taught software developer who has mostly throughout his career focused on financial applications and high frequency trading. He currently works for CenturyLink

Nazayh Zanidean is a Project Coordinator for a mid-sized construction contractor in Calgary, Alberta. He enjoys writing as a hobby on topics that include foreign policy, international human rights, security and systemic media bias.