A New Age of Dinoflagellates: Using AI and Robots to Study Harmful Algal Blooms

Monterey Bay is subject to intense blooms of dinoflagellates, a type of algae that can sometimes produce harmful toxins. Between 2004 and 2007, these blooms were so dominant that it was known as the “age of dinoflagellates.” Throughout 2018 and 2019, after a decade of absence, an abundance of dinoflagellates was detected by an autonomous robot at the Santa Cruz Wharf.

Join Alexis Fischer to learn about what causes harmful algal blooms, and see how new technologies are informing decision-making for seafood safety.