A massive increase of nutrients into the Gulf (coastal eutrophication) caused by expanding agriculture and tourism provide conditions that favor development of algae blooms, and during the last few years scientific studies show they have increased in numbers.

These algae can be a perfectly natural occurrence but they can also be caused by high input of chemical nutrients. Eutrophication caused by the excessive use of fertilizers is a form of pollution. Certain species, such as algae, benefit from the nutrients first, which means they grow in disproportionate amounts, at the expense of other plants and animals. This is what we call an "algal bloom". These algae clouds decrease the amount of oxygen in the water, which is harmful to other organisms living in the sea.

The Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit on the eastern side of the Gulf of California produce 40% of Mexico's agricultural products. Here toxic algae blooms are becoming more frequent. 93% of Mexico's shrimp farms are also located here, which further contribute to the problem.

The algae we've seen might not be harmful in any way, a scientific study would be necessary to show whether they are or not. We are now sailing far from Sonora and Sinaloa, along the western side of the Gulf of California, where shrimp farming as well as tourism is expanding. Will we see the same problems with toxic algae here in the future?

Other little bits of news: Thom York from Radiohead is an Ocean Defender - check yesterday´s update on the Radiohead weblog (thanks for linking to our site Thom!)

And the webcam is back in business thanks to Tom our radio operator. If you check it and it happens to be all black with little dots, it only means it is dark where we are. And the sun sets quickly here: I can almost hear the big light bulb plunge behind the Baja Peninsula mountains.