UCSC RESEARCHERS GET GRANT JG

UCSC HAS RECEIVED A GRANT THAT WILL ENABLE RESEARCHERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOLVING A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. THE 400,000 DOLLAR GRANT WILL ENABLE THE UNIVERSITY?S INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCES TO WORK WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES TO EVALUATE TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD MAKE TESTING FOR BIOTOXIC ALGAE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. FISH AND SHELL FISH, TAINTED BY THE ALGAE, CAN CAUSE SEVERE ILLNESS OR DEATH IF CONSUMED. MARINE LIFE, SUCH AS SEA OTTERS OR SEA LIONS, ARE ROUTINELY POISONED BY SUCH BLOOMS ON THE CENTRAL COAST. THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHEREIC ADMINISTRATON (NOAA) AWARDED THE GRANT AS PART OF ITS EFFORT TO DEVELOP DETECTION AND TRACKING OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.