The sudden increase in California sea lions exhibiting neurological problems in Malibu is suspected to be caused by domoic acid poisoning caused by toxic algal blooms. The California Wildlife Center said rescue efforts were underway while an emergency alert was issued to keep people at a distance from the animals.
Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are using artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to map algae blooms around the world, just as sargassum blooms in peak season in Florida and the U.S. Caribbean.
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NOAA’s Satellite Applied Research Center (STAR), in collaboration with the University of South Florida (USF), combined AI and more than 1 million satellite images to detect and quantify floating seaweed and phytoplankton in oceans around the world.
Global distribution of floating algae based on satellite observations.
(NOAA/FOX Weather)
The study builds on a 2019 study by NOAA and USF in which researchers added new ocean color data to STARS’ Ocean Color Viewer tool.
Scientists found that while this update provided a complete picture of floating algae for the first time, determining the total surface area covered was difficult.
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To address this challenge, researchers combined satellite data from 2003 to 2023 with AI. This has made it possible to observe floating seagrass and phytoplankton in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, as well as some marginal oceans.
NASA captured this large clump of algae off the coast using a satellite.
(NASA6 Goddard Space Flight Center)
The study showed that for the first time scientists have revealed a complete picture of floating algae around the world.
Researchers found that blooms exist both on the coast and in the deep ocean, covering approximately 17 million miles. It’s four times the area of the United States
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These findings have helped scientists better understand the spatial extent and long-term changes in marine plant growth that can have negative economic impacts.
Sargassum algae piles up along the shore at a beach in Puerto Rico, May 19, 2025
(Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images)
According to NOAA, most algae species reach their peak growth in the spring and summer. Their optimal growth is determined by water temperature and nutrients.
While moderate blooms can benefit marine ecosystems and fisheries, large-scale algal blooms are often harmful to the environment and marine life.
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By mapping these blooms, scientists can identify areas where tourism, commerce, and fishing are negatively affected.
