[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] CNN to profile military's use of marine mammals

 

(CNN)
(Moderator's note: Since I have a copy of F.G. Wood's 1973 book "Marine Mammals and Man" on my shelf, describing the U.S. Navy's work with marine mammals, the only thing "secret" about the program was the use of marine mammals to target human swimmers, which Wood adamantly denies. He was either uninformed, which seems unlikely, or was deliberately concealing this element of the marine mammal work, which was rumored at the time and later revealed by an article, "The Pentagon's Deadly Pets," quoting Michael Greenwood in PENTHOUSE around 1974. – MJB)

Editor's note: CNN's Kaj Larsen served as an active duty member of the U.S. Navy SEALs for five years and was trained in combat diving. For more on this story and others, check out "CNN Presents," Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Harnessing the military power of animal intelligence

San Diego (CNN) -- In a little-known part of the counter-terrorism world, one of the most effective detection systems is a 600-pound animal that works for about 20 pounds of fish a day.

Since the 1960s, the United States and a handful of other countries have trained dolphins and sea lions to detect sea mines and swimmers, and to recover inert torpedoes and testing objects used in Naval exercises.

Program officials estimate that the sea lions in the Marine Mammal Program have recovered millions of dollars of U.S. Naval torpedoes and instrumentation dropped on the sea floor.

The U.S. Navy kept its Marine Mammal Program a secret until the 1990s, and this spring CNN became one of only a handful of media outlets to see firsthand how the program works.

The program trains about 75 Pacific bottlenose dolphins, with natural biosonar that tracks better than any manmade device; and 35 California sea lions, with supurb underwater eyesight.

Not only do these trained marine mammals track and retrieve millions of dollars in U.S. military equipment, they are also helping to save lives.

The Navy won't disclose whether the dolphins and sea lions have effectively intercepted terrorists attempting to do harm to any U.S. facilities.

Either way, "it serves as a deterrent effect," says Christian Harris, operations supervisor for the program.

When animals protect

The mammals can be deployed via C-130 cargo aircraft to perform their missions anywhere in the world within 72 hours. They have been used in exercises from Alaska to Hawaii, operating in great temperature and environmental ranges. They also have the capability to operate off vessels.

Dolphins most recently were deployed in the Iraq war, performing mine detection and clearance operations in the Persian Gulf to ensure safe passage for humanitarian ships delivering aid. Some of these Iraq war "veterans" are now back home, tasked with a new mission: guarding nuclear submarines in their homeports of Bremerton, Washington, and Groton, Connecticut.

A key part of the training program is teaching these mammals how to intercept potentially hostile swimmers.

There is an entire domain of port and harbor security devoted to anti-combat swimmer or swimmer defense. Combat diving or swimming is practiced by a small contingent of special operations forces around the world.

Using an underwater breathing apparatus, at night, is a very stealthy way to come upon a target unannounced and inflict violence of action with the element of surprise. The German Kampfschwimmers, Israel's Shayatet 13, and the U.S. Navy SEALs are generally considered the premier units that train and conduct combat swimmer operations around the world.

The Marine Mammal Program was conceived to defend against these kinds of attacks from hostile nations.

The program is also positioned to defend against lone swimmer terrorist attacks as well.

In 2002, classified reports from the intelligence community, gleaned from interrogations of suspects in Afghanistan, warned that al Qaeda was planning on using scuba divers to attack U.S. Navy vessels in port or at anchor.

And just this week a picture emerged on the Facebook page of Oslo terror suspect Anders Behring Breivik, holding a modified assault rifle in what appears to be a combat diving set-up.

How the program started

In the 1960s, the U.S. Navy began studying the hydrodynamics of a Pacific white-sided dolphin in an effort to improve torpedo performance. The Navy quickly realized that the incredibly efficient biosonar of the dolphin was excellent for detecting hard-to-find objects -- and people -- underwater.

For the next quarter-century, the U.S. Navy secretly honed the technique of using mammals to find both underwater objects, detect mines and combat swimmers. The Navy deployed dolphins to Vietnam and the Persian Gulf to perform the swimmer interdiction mission.

In the 1990s, the U.S. military declassified the Marine Mammal Program and since then, it has been headquartered at the Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego.

The program is managed jointly by the Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific and military explosive experts, who are the backbone of the program.

In addition, civilian marine biologists, veterinarians, scientists and handlers are involved in the program. Researchers from institutions like Sea World to UC San Diego regularly collaborate with them for research purposes.

The program has an annual operating budget of $20 million, according to Marine Mammal Program director Mike Rothe who expressed confidence that the program's future funding is not at risk.

"We don't anticipate any impacts to our budget based on current issues in D.C.," Rothe said.

Dogged by accusations of animal mistreatment and conspiracy theories that the animals are used for offensive operations like mine placement and swimmer attack, the U.S. Navy has been slowly allowing access to the program.

In April, CNN got a rare opportunity to witness firsthand how accurate these animals are at detecting possible threats.

Trying to outsmart a dolphin

Armed with an inert limpet mine, I dove into the chilly waters of San Diego bay to perform five mock attacks on an experimental Navy ship docked to a pier to see how well these dolphins can find potential attackers in the water.

Both as a surface swimmer and using scuba gear, my experience was identical. I'd progress toward the ship and out of the murky waters of the bay I would feel an aggressive bump -- sort of like getting hit by a battering ram -- indicating the dolphin had marked me and that security forces were on their way to my location.

Despite all my efforts at concealment, I was an easy target for the dolphin in its natural environment.

Later, I was intercepted by a sea lion who attached a clamplike device to my leg -- allowing the security boat to reel me in.

The final score of my day of training in the bay: mammals 5, combat swimmer 0.

While it seems strange that in this digital era, there's such a seemingly lo-fi approach to guard the Navy's most sophisticated and expensive assets. But according to Rothe, nothing in today's hi-tech world can compete with these mammals' biosonar abilities.

"I hope that one day there is a robot or a UUV [unmanned underwater vehicle] that makes the mammal program obsolete," he said. "But right now this is the best thing out there."

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Happy Shark Week!

 

The Discovery Channel begins its annual "Shark Week" today!

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Acanthaster planci

 

hello! my study is about in situ administration of sodium bisulphate to Acanthaster planci.I would like to ask for more references regarding this study. PDF files, word docs, books and etc. will do.... thank you :)

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[forensic-science] Thought that this site would be of interest to aspiring forensic scientists

 

For aspiring forensic scientists that are seeking tutoring, mentoring, career advice, and other information about careers available in the field of forensics, how to pursue a career and succeed in it. Visit www.forensicnexus.com, there is tons of information that has been researched and collected for students that need assistance.

-Tatiana

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, SEA TURTLES

 

UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, SEA TURTLES, DUGONGS â€" AUSTRALIA: (QUEENSLAND) NUTRITION SUSPECTED
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>

Date: 25 Jul 2011
Source: My Foxhouston.com [edited]
<http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpps/news/international/mass-turtle-deaths-on-great-barrier-reef-have-scientists-worried-dpgonc-20110725-to_14282463?>

Scientists were struggling Monday [25 Jul 2011] to understand why the northern coast of Queensland has become littered with sick and dying turtles and dugongs.

More than 400 bodies have been discovered along the coastline near the Great Barrier Reef, and experts believe hundreds more animals could have perished in remote areas or simply sunk to the bottom of the sea.

"The bodies we are finding are just the tip of the iceberg," Ellen Ariel, a virologist with the James Cook University in Queensland, said. "We are only finding the bodies because they appear on beaches where people are walking but there will be many others in places no one can access."

Ariel, who attended an emergency summit in Townsville on Friday [22 Jul 2011] to discuss the deaths, called the situation "an environmental disaster."

Experts think the fatalities could be the result of extreme weather in northern Australia. Devastating floods in December [2010] and January [2011], and a cyclone in February, caused a runoff of nutrients into the ocean, potentially killing the seagrass that both turtles and dugongs -- or "sea cows" -- feed on. The grass provides nutrients and improves the animals' ability to breath underwater.

"There is evidence that marine animals, including turtles, are suffering from poor nutrition because of a lack of seagrass," Vicky Darling, the Queensland Environment Minister, said.

Ariel said the impact on the turtle population was potentially as severe as the devastation to marine life caused by an oil spill.
"If this is taking out a whole generation of juvenile turtles you won't have a new population for 60 years," she said. "It's really dramatic. It's right up there with the oil spills in the US."

The Townsville turtle hospital was at full capacity Monday, and James Cook University set up a rehabilitation center for sick sea life.

--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
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[This article does not tell us which type(s) of sea turtles is/are dying. There are only 7 species of sea turtle found worldwide and 6 of them are found in Australian waters. These are the loggerhead, green, hawksbill, olive ridley, flatback and leatherback turtles. Most sea turtles are found in warm, tropical oceanic waters and so are mostly seen in northern Australian waters. leatherback turtles have a global distribution and can also be found in colder waters, such as around southern Australia.

Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. Fully grown, they may be 3 metres [10 feet] long and weigh 400 kilograms [882 pounds]. They have nostrils near the top of their snouts. Dugongs swim by moving their broad spade-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their 2 flippers. Dugongs' only hairs are the bristles near the mouth.

Dugongs are highly migratory, which means Australia shares populations with other neighbouring countries. In Australia, Dugongs swim in the shallow coastal waters of northern Australia from the Queensland/New South Wales border in the east to Shark Bay on the Western Australian coast. They are also found in other parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans in warm shallow seas where seagrass is found.

The scientist mentioned in this article believe this is only the "tip of the iceberg" but if the bodies of animals are not washed up on shore how do they know there are other unaccounted for dead animals?
Have they sent divers down looking for this? While the water is relatively clear and shallow, the bodies could be washed to other regions, if indeed there are dead ones that are not accounted for.

While the lack of sea grass is a huge issue for both of these animals, it is also sad that there are places in Australia where the dugongs are hunted with firearms. I suppose people eat them, just at they eat the turtle eggs, even of turtles that are endangered. It might be one issue if these people were starving but rather they are used as some delicacy.

While nature may have played a role in eliminating sea grass, and we hope it comes back, I did not see a proposal on how to help these animal in the meantime. Dugongs are similar in many ways to the manatee in the northern hemisphere.

Photos of dugongs may be found at: <http://australian-animals.net/> and <http://bushwarriors.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/dugong-photo-via-national-geographic.jpg>
and <http://titchytotchy.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/dugong.jpg>
Photos of sea turtles may be seen at:
<http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/marineturtles/marineturtles.html>
- Mod.TG]

[see also:
2003
----
Sea turtle, die-off - Australia: RFI 20030116.0130] .................................................sb/tg/ejp/dk/ll
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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] FWC testing water after recent fish kills

 

FWC testing water after recent fish kills

Jul 28, 2011 6:26 PM EDT

LEE COUNTY (FL)-

Hundreds of dead fish have turned up on Lee and Collier County beaches over the past two weeks. And experts say the fish kill could have a lasting impact on Southwest Florida's fishing industry.

Two recent fish-kills on area beaches have left sea creatures to rot on Southwest Florida sand. Officials with FWC say it could be a larger algae threat near the coast

Now they're checking it out.

"The reason why we're down here is we're going off shore to look at what the extent is to the west," explained Matt Garrett, with FWC.

Thursday, FWC research biologists sampled the Gulf in five areas, 10-miles off the Lee and Collier coastlines

To get a more accurate reading, they use a container which allows them to get water samples from the floor of the Gulf.

Those samples are then sent to a lab to be analyzed.

"Unfortunately, we don't have the equipment out here to look at the water because everything is microscopic. The best we can do is to capture the water, take it back to the lab and have our taxonomist look at it under the scope," Garrett explained.

But he said the early indicators don't look algae-free

"There's chlorophyll in the water," Garrett said.

An increased reading of chlorophyll means algae. And there was an increased reading at every sample spot we visited.

Still, there's no telling if it's the fish-killing type of algae

Garrett says they will know in a few days whether or not that is the case.

But, he says if it is, "it wouldn't be good."

By Joshua Repp
NBC News

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Japan to quit Antarctic whaling?

 

(Canberra Times)

Japan looks at quitting Antarctic whale hunts
BY ANDREW DARBY
29 Jul, 2011 04:00 AM
Internal pressure is growing on Japanese whalers over their costly Antarctic hunt, with the Government officially airing for the first time an option of a permanent halt.
An internal review of the loss-making ''scientific research'' program was sparked by last summer's disastrous season, when the whaling fleet was forced out of the Southern Ocean by Sea Shepherd harassment.

In its interim report, a review committee raised concerns over financial problems of the hunt, and while the committee's majority wanted to continue, some wanted to end it, media reports in Tokyo said yesterday.

When the fleet retreated last February, unnamed officials at the Fisheries Agency of Japan commented that the prospects of returning were ''extremely gloomy''.

But the International Whaling Commission meeting in Jersey was told last month by Japanese Commissioner Kenji Kagawa that the decision to recall the fleet was to protect human lives.

''I would like to stress that our decision does not indicate any change in Japan's whaling policy,'' Mr Kagawa said.

Now according to the leading business newspaper Nikkei, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries review committee found that ''withdrawal and reduction of whaling may be a possibility due to [its] financial problem''.

''Japanese scientific whaling costs over 3 billion yen ($A35million) every time, and its deficit is becoming a serious problem,'' the Nikkei report said.

According to the mass circulation daily, Yomiuri Shimbun, the committee's majority wanted to continue despite conservationist harassment.

Yomiuri said the majority found, ''Research whaling is justified on the basis of an international treaty. It should be continued without yielding to heinous interference.''

The minority said, ''If we cannot gain understanding on the research whaling in the international community, we should scale it down or halt it.''

Greenpeace Japan's executive director Junichi Sato said the whaling industry was about to go bankrupt due to the shrinking market for whale meat.

''The report by the committee is confirming that,'' Mr Sato said.

''Japan should not inject any more taxpayers' money to unwanted whaling. Instead, it should be used to help tsunami-affected towns and industries.''

Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd's plans to return to the Antarctic have hit a hurdle, with the arrest of its flagship Steve Irwin, in the Shetland Islands en route to the Faroe Islands to act against a local pilot whale hunt.

According to the group's leader, Paul Watson, the arrest was demanded by a Maltese fishing company claiming damages to its nets and catch in a 2010 Mediterranean blue-fin tuna protest.

He said Sea Shepherd needed to raise a $US1.4million ($A1.2 million) bond to free the ship.

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Ploys fail to drive Gray Whale to ocean

 

Eureka, CA - Scientists have herded it with boats, used noisemakers to frighten it and piped the sound of its main predator (Killer Whales) under water, but the 45-foot-long gray whale that has been in the Klamath River for four weeks refuses to budge.

After the latest attempt to get the whale to leave the river failed, scientists are taking a wait-and-see approach to the situation, said Sarah Wilkin, stranding coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. They will continue to monitor the whale, and attempts to intervene have been stopped, she said.

"We'll just kind of take it day by day," Wilkin said.

Since the whale swam upstream with her calf June 28, she has been hanging out underneath the Highway 101 bridge, creating a spectacle for motorists along the highway.

For the most part, scientists with NOAA and Humboldt State University and officials with the Yurok Tribe have just kept an eye on the whale and her calf. But on Sunday, after people had spotted the calf just outside the river mouth, scientists from both organizations as well as the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office used power boats, kayaks and noisemakers to get the adult back to the ocean. That attempt failed.

On Tuesday, scientists played recordings of killer whales and man-made alarm sounds under the water, Wilkin said. Initially that appeared to work, she said. The animal turned around and traveled downstream. But after awhile, the whale turned around and headed
back underneath the U.S. Highway 101 bridge, Wilkin said.

"It didn't have the full result we were hoping for of having her go all the way out of the river," she said.

Wilkin said the whale does not appear to be skinny or emaciated, but she thinks the whale hasn't been getting very much to eat.

HSU marine biology professor Dawn Goley said the condition of the whale is typical for those who have just stopped nursing their calves. The calf had last been seen by one of Goley's students at the river mouth Saturday. Wilkin estimated the calf's age to be between five and seven months old, which is usually when they become independent.

"In the days before it left, it started spending time away from the mom and it seemed like that time was increasing up until the point where it just left entirely," she said. "Once weaning is done, the moms and calves don't hang out socially."

Even though scientists aren't too concerned about the whale's current health, Goley said they are concerned about the river depth. They're also worried about tension between the whale and people on the riverbank.

According to Thomas O'Rourke, chairman of the Yurok Tribe, tribal officials have discussed how the whale's presence will affect the fall commercial salmon fishery, which begins Aug. 21. There will also be an abundance of sport fishermen on the river, he said. The commercial fishery is about two miles downstream from the U.S. Highway 101 bridge, where the whale is, but once she moves downstream she'll have to pass through a congested area of nets, he said.

"If the whale decides it wants to go out, basically what we'll do is have an emergency shutdown of the river," O'Rourke said. "We have tried to usher it out, we've tried to spook it out and we've tried to get it to turn around and go out, but have been unsuccessful."

This isn't the first time a whale decided to take a detour into fresh water. In 2007 two humpback whales, Delta and Dawn, swam 90 miles up the Sacramento River. According to Wilkin, Delta and Dawn swam much farther upstream and there were serious concerns about the humpback whales' health. O'Rourke said the last time a whale swam up the Klamath River was in 1989. It left the river without incident.

Scientists are still unsure why the two whales swam up the Klamath River instead of continuing on to their feeding grounds in Alaska, but O'Rourke said there must be a reason.

"Things in our world don't happen without a reason, without a purpose," he said. "The whales coming here, they carry a message, and they will stay here until the message is received, whatever that may be."

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Ploys fail to drive gray whale to ocean

 

Eureka, CA - Scientists have herded it with boats, used noisemakers to frighten it and piped the sound of its main predator Killer EWhales under water, but the 45-foot-long gray whale that has been in the Klamath River for four weeks refuses to budge.

After the latest attempt to get the whale to leave the river failed, scientists are taking a wait-and-see approach to the situation, said Sarah Wilkin, stranding coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. They will continue to monitor the whale, and attempts to intervene have been stopped, she said.

"We'll just kind of take it day by day," Wilkin said.

Since the whale swam upstream with her calf June 28, she has been hanging out underneath the Highway 101 bridge, creating a spectacle for motorists along the highway.

For the most part, scientists with NOAA and Humboldt State University and officials with the Yurok Tribe have just kept an eye on the whale and her calf. But on Sunday, after people had spotted the calf just outside the river mouth, scientists from both organizations as well as the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office used power boats, kayaks and noisemakers to get the adult back to the ocean. That attempt failed.

On Tuesday, scientists played recordings of killer whales and man-made alarm sounds under the water, Wilkin said. Initially that appeared to work, she said. The animal turned around and traveled downstream. But after awhile, the whale turned around and headed
back underneath the U.S. Highway 101 bridge, Wilkin said.

"It didn't have the full result we were hoping for of having her go all the way out of the river," she said.

Wilkin said the whale does not appear to be skinny or emaciated, but she thinks the whale hasn't been getting very much to eat.

HSU marine biology professor Dawn Goley said the condition of the whale is typical for those who have just stopped nursing their calves. The calf had last been seen by one of Goley's students at the river mouth Saturday. Wilkin estimated the calf's age to be between five and seven months old, which is usually when they become independent.

"In the days before it left, it started spending time away from the mom and it seemed like that time was increasing up until the point where it just left entirely," she said. "Once weaning is done, the moms and calves don't hang out socially."

Even though scientists aren't too concerned about the whale's current health, Goley said they are concerned about the river depth. They're also worried about tension between the whale and people on the riverbank.

According to Thomas O'Rourke, chairman of the Yurok Tribe, tribal officials have discussed how the whale's presence will affect the fall commercial salmon fishery, which begins Aug. 21. There will also be an abundance of sport fishermen on the river, he said. The commercial fishery is about two miles downstream from the U.S. Highway 101 bridge, where the whale is, but once she moves downstream she'll have to pass through a congested area of nets, he said.

"If the whale decides it wants to go out, basically what we'll do is have an emergency shutdown of the river," O'Rourke said. "We have tried to usher it out, we've tried to spook it out and we've tried to get it to turn around and go out, but have been unsuccessful."

This isn't the first time a whale decided to take a detour into fresh water. In 2007 two humpback whales, Delta and Dawn, swam 90 miles up the Sacramento River. According to Wilkin, Delta and Dawn swam much farther upstream and there were serious concerns about the humpback whales' health. O'Rourke said the last time a whale swam up the Klamath River was in 1989. It left the river without incident.

Scientists are still unsure why the two whales swam up the Klamath River instead of continuing on to their feeding grounds in Alaska, but O'Rourke said there must be a reason.

"Things in our world don't happen without a reason, without a purpose," he said. "The whales coming here, they carry a message, and they will stay here until the message is received, whatever that may be."

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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] New Zealand: Emperor penguin 'recovered' after surgery

 

Wellington, NZ - A young emperor penguin found washed up on a New Zealand beach is recovering well and could swim home next month.

Staff at Wellington zoo said results of an X-ray and blood test showed "Happy Feet", as it has been named, is fine after endoscopic surgery.

The penguin was found on Peka Peka beach, about 60km (37 miles) north of Wellington - some 3,000km from its home in Antarctica.

Experts had been reluctant to intervene as the bird appeared to be healthy.

However, it later grew lethargic and was operated on to remove sand from its stomach.

A Zoo spokeswoman, Kate Baker, said the penguin has gained about 4 kg (9 lbs).

It was given a first swim at the zoo earlier this week, in waters which needed to be several degrees below freezing for the purpose.

Crowds have been flocking to the zoo to see the bird - the first such arrival of an Emperor penguin in New Zealand in at least 44 years.

The bird's plight has attracted worldwide attention.

Hundreds of people had gathered to watch a leading gastroenterologist from Wellington Hospital perform the endoscopy on the bird at the zoo in late June.

To help it feel more at home, the penguin is being kept in a room chilled to about 8C (46F). There is a bed of ice for it to sleep on.

Zoo staff said the bird would probably be released offshore from the south end of the country early next month.

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[forensic-science] Is Levi Bellfield the real Chillenden Murderer?

 
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[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Toxic algae warning lifted, but caution still urged

 

Toxic algae warning lifted, but caution still urged

Jul 26, 2011 4:12 PM EDT

FORT MYERS, FL -

The health department has lifted the toxic algae warning in Lee County, but they're still advising people use caution before going into the water.

Officials first issued the warning in June, after the toxic algae was found in the Caloosahatchee River.

And it took its toll on local businesses.

"People weren't fishing, weren't on boats, weren't swimming. We lost all that business. On weekends we didn't do any business at all," said deli and bait shop owner Richard Spence.

The warning was expanded after toxic algae was also found in the Imperial River.

The health department says the newest test results, on water samples taken July 11 in the Caloosahatchee, showed a significant drop in the toxin level.

But while the warning is not longer in place and the county will take down signs posted at Franklin Lock, officials say the conditions are still favorable for algae growth.

They say those going in the water to swim or fish, or those letting their pets or livestock go into the water, should still use caution.

The county says that if the water appears unusually bright green, or you see distressed or dead animal and marine life in the water, you probably shouldn't swim, boat or fish there.

Some people exposed to the toxic algae complained of breathing problems. The health department says stomach issues, vomiting, nausea and skin irritation were also possible in those who came in contact with the algae.

If you suffer breathing difficulties near particular bodies of water, you're asked to call the health department at (239) 274-2200. To report dead or distressed marine and wildlife call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (863) 648-3200.

By Sarah Hollenbeck

NBC News

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