Many are not expected to live. The survivors will be released into the waters of northern California. Although toxic algae blooms are considered a natural phenomena, scientists believe they may be set off because of human intervention. According to a study published in February by scientists at San Francisco State University, harmful algae blooms may be fueled by urea, an organic nitrogen compound found in urine and in urban and farm field runoff. Sewage does cause toxic plankton bloom, and any sewage spills are bound to adversely alter the ecology of the area, said William Cochlan, Senior Research Scientist at San Francisco State University's Environmental Studies Department.
Human influences can definitely promote phytoplankton bloom.
It's been seen around the world. Urea is an organic form of nitrogen and it's also found in fertilizer. Sewage will change the ratio of ambient nutrient concentrations and that will cause domoic acid. Coastal sewage plants that dump into the Pacific should be testing for total nitrogen, and organic nitrogen counts, that's what can cause all this to start. Both the South County Sanitation Plant in Oceano, and the Pismo Beach sewage treatment plant release their treated effluent in the ocean three-quarters of a mile off of the Oceano Dunes State Park.