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A photograph of a Harmful Algal Bloom in Lake Elsinore, California. This particular bloom was caused by cyanobacteria in August of 2022. Credit to Getty Images. California’s Pacific coast is one of the most biodiverse and abundant ecosystems worldwide teaming with almost 2000 species of microorganisms, plants, fish, marine mammals, turtles, invertebrates and sea birds supported by a Mediterranean climate. Its famous off-shore, underwater and coastal rock formations date back to the Crustaceous period and help subsidize this special bionetwork making the state’s ocean waters and sea life sacred and unique. Unfortunately, California’s precious coastal ecosystem also faces massive threats in the vein of climate change/global warming, the devastation of kelp forests, ocean acidification, algal blooms and habitat destruction; sounding the alarm for the time-sensitive need for human intervention, conservation management and awareness. The Pacific Tide series highlights monthly oceanic events occurring on the California coast and/or portrait important species who call the Pacific coastline waters home emphasizing the importance of conserving this critical ecosystem. In this month’s installment of The Pacific Tide, we unravel the defining history and effects of algal blooms exploring some notable events in both global and California’s state histories. We also reveal how algal blooms potentially harm the human food chain and what California scientists are doing to monitor and reduce the algal environments to protect sea life, public health, food chains, infrastructure and the economy. A photograph of a harmful algal bloom causing a fish (crapple, carp, bluegill, and catfish), die-off in Clear Lake, California. This bloom occurred in June 2019. Credit to the United States Geologic Survey. Dolphins, Dogs and Algae During the opening week of May 2026, the Pacific waters off the shore of San Clemente’s North Beach sparkled like sapphires to the soundtrack of gently rolling waves; as beachgoers inhaled the scent of the sea perfuming the air and left their footprints in the sand. What onlookers saw next caused shock and fear: a bottlenose dolphin only partially submerged in breaking water appearing to be under the influence of a seizure. Although the growing crowd felt helpless; Los Angeles’s Pacific Marine Mammal Center rushed to the scene but were unable to be of assistance as the dolphin had been swept back to the deeper waters of the Pacific; now swimming erratically. Human intervention was fruitless and equally heartbreaking as this was the second dolphin in distress in mere days. A photograph of a deceased dolphin washed up on shore as a result of Domoic Acid Poisoning. Credit to the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute. The charming Venice Canals (Los Angeles) boasts colorful condos, wooden bridges and small docked boats awaiting passengers to glide down its channel making the Venice Canals the ideal picturesque walk for the four-legged best friends of the neighborhood. As these pups trotted around the canals enjoying their dog day out in early 2026; later reports came in of several canines suffering from seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure and even unexplainable death; turning the Venice neighborhood upside down in alert mode. Geographically-distanced coastal neighborhoods, two distinctly varying animals: what is the Sherlock-ian clue knotting these alarming events with one string? Harmful Algae Blooms: preferably monikered to ocean scientists under the acronym, ‘HAB’. Although a world-wide oceanic occurrence; California’s coastal waterways have been cursed with dismaying HAB events especially in recent years with the 2024 and 2025 spring/summer seasons being some of the worst on historical record. In a 2026 reversal, the algae toxins are comparatively minimal allowing for some breathing room for marine rescuers and ocean conservationists - but California is not entirely out of the flagged stage. What are HABs and How Do They Impact California? Algae are the ‘trees of our oceans’ helping to photosynthesize carbon, serve as food for a significant number of sea animal species and structurally secure the marine sediment beds. Without algae; our entire oceanic ecosystems would be awry with a global land and air decompression. These superheroes of the ocean can, periodically, become the villains influenced by warming waters and offshore runoff causing algae numbers to over-multiply uncontrollably resulting in a mass disturbance. Algal blooms occur as water rich in phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients (usually entering the waterways through pollution or California’s infamous wildfires) is pushed in a circular motion upwelling speeding the growth of Pseudo-nitzschia: a single-celled alga. Pseudo-nitzschia produces a by-product of the neurotoxin, domoic acid. When the conditions are idyllic for a HAB to take place, then the entire oceanic ecosystem and food chains are violated by an overabundance of the uninvited domoic acid party guest. A photograph of seabirds flying over San Francisco Bay in the midst of a harmful algal bloom. Credit to Justin Sullivan / Getty Images. Acting as the superfood of plankton, sardines, fish and shellfish; algae is in turn consumed by the mammals of the sea: pinnipeds like seals and sea lions, dolphins, whales and sharks. The toxic domoic acid hijacks the host animal’s spinal fluid causing brain damage and eventual death. In the spring HAB event of 2025, Southern California’s multiple marine wildlife rehabilitation facilities received up to 100 calls a day regarding domoic acid-affected animals taxing out their physical space and financial grants rushing to save those dying. HAB events are not only the seasonal killers of ocean life; but actively cost the US economy millions yearly in marine waterway infrastructure damage, income loss, and even tourism and recreational dents. Although climate change warming the waters of our oceans is one of the primary causes of HAB events; algal blooms are not a modern-day phenomenon dating back to as far as 2.5 billion years when blooms blanketed the fledgling earth’s surface waters causing ‘The Great Oxidation Event’ which, quite literally, made life possible with the introduction of prosperousamounts of oxygen. During the Devonian Period (419-358 million years ago), the loosening roots of trees and plants triggered the unhinging of boulders and rocks thus releasingnutrients into the water systems causing an algae bloom that devoid the oceans of so much oxygen that most marine mammals became extinct. The famous Chicxulub asteroid extinction of dinosaurs recited by school children worldwide;also resulted in seven notorious HAB events only recently confirmed by scientists running simulations of ocean productivity before and after the asteroid impact. The asteroid’s blocking of sunlight and monstrous release of dust dramatically cooled the seas causing the upwelling of nutrient-dense water which is the homeostatic condition ideal for a HAB event. Turn back 47 million years when modern-day Germany experienced a HAB event that was the genocide of horses, bats and birds. Subsequent notable devastating HAB events occurred 2.6 million years ago in the Gulf of Florida, 1000 B.C. in Egypt, 1606 and 1774 respectively in Vanuatu, Spain, 1793 in British Columbia, Canada, 1799 in Alaska and 1844 in Florida. California is no stranger to historic HAB events with 1927 seeing the San Fransico Bay area tragically reporting six human fatalities and several hundred more becoming sick afterconsuming shellfish high in domoic acid. A flock of Pelicans huddled around at the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. The 1963 film The Birds, by Alfred Hitchcock, was partially inspired by a 1961 incident in which birds affected by Domoic Acid Poisoning attacked homes & vehicles in Capitola, California. Credit to Newt Likier / Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center. Fans of the horror-king Alfred Hitchock might be surprised to learn that his inspiration for the classic film, “The Birds”, was that of a Monterey Bay, California disturbance in 1961 with thousands of birds acting erratically and dying in mass numbers which has since been verified to be the result of a Pseudo-nitzschia bloom. HAB events in California are now larger in spread scope, last longer in duration and travel to more waterways than ever before. Marine or land animal species consuming seafood from algae-infected waters are principally those to succumb to the evil end-game of HAB events but humans can also experience symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, lung infections, eye irritation, vomiting and seizures from swimming in bloom-infected waters or engaging in water sport recreations. Although rarer, humans can become afflicted with Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) from consuming mussels, clams, scallops and oysters high in domoic acid seeing memory loss, headaches and even death. Golden Mussels in the Golden State: The Hidden Side of Algal Blooms Effecting Consumers and the Food Chain HAB events are the deadly nemesis to California’s marine life but they are also the evil foe to the state’s agriculture, infrastructure, drinking water and even the Californian end consumers of the food chain. To understand this negative feedback loop of algae blooms we must rewind to the fundamental building blocks. When a HAB proliferates, Pseudo-nitzschia concentrates the vicious domoic acid which infiltrates the consumers of this alga like sardines, anchovies and filter-feeding bivalves: the group of mollusks comprising of mussels, clams, oysters and scallops. When these animals are eaten by lobsters and crabs; suddenly California’s food supply is restricted: fisheries close, jobs are paused at seafood processing plants and the public consuming these animals as food are at risk of domoic acid intoxication that can inevitably lead to severe health complications and even death. The biggest threat to the human food chain are the bivalves which causes the State of California Department of Public Health to yearly suspend the consumption of sport-caught California coastal mollusks between May 1 – October 31 in order to prevent an outbreak of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) or Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). Commercially-caught bivalves are rigorously tested and considered to be much safer to public health but still meant to proceed with caution. Mollusks strategically consume plankton releasing nutrients into the water making algae thrive; while also over-filtering compounds that allow excess sunlight to bloom the algae in addition to imbibing on their own dose of domoic acid. This evil acid accumulates in the innards of these animals which unless removed before eaten; has disastrous results. California is being attacked from both sides during HAB events as the state is currently under a State of Emergency declaration due to the infestation of Golden Mussels: a highly invasive filter-feeding mussel species native to Asia with a massively-rapid expansion rate currently causing devastation to California’s waterway infrastructure by clogging pipework and tanks, damaging structures, constricting drinking water flow capabilities, disturbing water-suppression systems which are critical for California’s wildfire response, damaging water integrity, shrinking California’s native fish populations and terrifyingly: speeding the growth of algae blooms. A photograph of a colony of Golden Mussels (Limnoperna fortunei) recently discovered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Credit to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. These Golden Mussels are impenetrable appearing to be able to withstand a nuclear apocalypse with California’s engineers, water experts, scientists and biologists working around the clock to find a solution of complex Golden Mussel management or annihilation. Golden Mussels have already wreaked havoc in Northern California damaging a $100 million floodgate in Kern County, damaging Santa Clara water treatment facilities and a raw water processor in Santa Teresa. “This is no longer a theoretical concern or something happening elsewhere. The infestation is here”, confirms Thomas Brown, Kern County Intergovernmental Affairs Officer. Experts recommend visiting the California Department of Public Health website for up-to-date information regarding domoic acid contaminated seafood/algae bloom maps before consumption. (https://wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/health-advisories) California Moving Forward and Monitoring HAB Events California fundamentally focuses on providing both public and private sectors with real-time HAB updates and offers a host of key resources to combat risks to oceanic or human lives. Implemented in early 2025, the United Nations began collaboratively working with California using satellite data and images to highlight water upwelling and movement, the presence of algae, temperature changes, and miscellaneous anomalies to help warn of incoming HAB events. Environmental scientists in the San Francisco Bay area along with the US Geological Survey California Water Science Center partner to analyze water data including water movement, temperature and microbial life in agal communities helping to slow spread. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also works hand-in-hand with California state authorities providing the use of satellites and ocean sensors hoping to mitigate the growth of devastating blooms. The State of California Water Control Monitoring Council provides the public with an easy-to-use incident reporting info-graphic map that showcases any threats, warnings, cautions, bloom confirmations, sightings and alerts (https://mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs/resources/reports-map/). These agencies working together are a critical asset to the wellbeing of California’s marine life and public health. Although scientifically impossible to completely eradicate HAB events; California state officials are using innovative methods to help manage blooms preventing them from causing chaos to the state’s sea life, economy, public health and food chain. California implements approved algaecide that significantly reduces the coverage of blooms; while also introducing clay sprays to the surface of water. These sprays bind with algae sinking to the sea bed and neutralizing them. The clay method can be observed by the pilot program at Clear Lake in Northern California where phosphorus, one of the key nutrients of blooms, is removed and force-fed into the sediment layer. Experts via the state’s Regional Water Boards also increasingly focus on altering oceanic environmental conditions by extinguishing the access of oxygen that feeds blooms and enforcing “maximum daily load” numbers capping the nutrient amounts that can be flushed into the waterways. Even droids are entering the HAB fight with Imaging-Flow Cytobots created by the Ocean Protection Council, transmitting underwater microbial data in real time. These combined efforts will profoundly ensure that California’s marine life, public health and economy remain preserved. If encountering an animal suspected of being intoxicated by domoic acid, remain at least 50 feet in distance and immediately call any of the following agencies: NOAA West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-866-767-6114 Channel Island Marine & Wildlife Institute at (805) 567-1506 California Wildlife Center at (310) 458 - 9453 Pacific Marine Mammal Center at (949) 494-3050 Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles at (424) 450-0570 Directories / Credits 1: “Dead Dolphin and Distressing Video Raise Concern in Orange County”, Written by Lilly Dallow. Published on May 7, 2026 by KTLA 5​Los Angeles. https://ktla.com/news/orange-county/dead-dolphin-and-distressing-video-raise-concern-in-orange-county/ 2: “Navigating the 2026 Toxic Algae Venice Canals Crisis: Protecting Your Dog on the Westside”, Written by Arnold Lopez on February 25, 2026 by Puparazzi Pet Resort and Spa. https://puparazzila.com/blog/2026-venice-canals-toxic-algae-bloom-dog-safety/ 3: “Algal Blooms”, Written by Gary Pitzer. Published on Unknown Date by California Department of Water Resources. https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Algal-Blooms 4: “Harmful Algal Blooms”, Written by Uknown Author. Published on Unknown Date by Tracking California. https://trackingcalifornia.org/topics/habs#gsc.tab=0 5: “Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms in California”, Written by San Diego Coastkeeper. Published on June 10, 2025 by San Diego Coastkeeper. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/blog/understanding-harmful-algal-blooms-in-california/ 6: “Asteroid Impact in Earth’s Past Caused Brief Bloom of Algae and Substantial Ocean Species’ Extinction”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on June 17, 2021 by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/asteroid-impact-in-earth2019s-past-caused-brief-bloom-of-algae-and-substantial-ocean-species2019-extinction 7: “Historical Occurrence of HABs”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on Unknown Date by U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms. https://hab.whoi.edu/about/historical-occurrence-of-habs/ 8: “'The Infestation is Here': Another California County Declares Emergency Over Species”, Written by Gillian Mohney. Published on May 14, 2026 by San Franscico Gate. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/bay-area-invasive-species-22259030.php 9: “Harmful Algal Blooms and Wild-Caught Seafood in California”, Written by Carolynn Culver, Carrie Pomeroy, Joe Tyburczy, Theresa Talley, Katherine Leitzell, Tatiana Raskin, Fernanda Pett, Junnichi Mijares, Danielle Punsal, Jae Shim and Sarah Amiri. Published on January 22, 2019 by Sea Grant California. https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/california-commercial-fisheries/harmful-algal-blooms-and-wild-caught-seafood-california 10: “California as Ground Zero for North America’s Golden Mussel Invasion: What to Know About the Mussel that has Already Triggered a State of Emergency in San Joaquin County”, Written by Lane Klansek. Published on May 4, 2026 by GEI Consultants. https://www.geiconsultants.com/thought_leadership/golden-mussel-invasion/ 11: “Hitting Us Where it Hurts: The Untold Story of Harmful Algal Blooms”, Written by Uknown Author. Published on September 25, 2024 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/science-data/hitting-us-where-it-hurts-untold-story-harmful-algal-blooms 12: “Behind the Data: Observing California’s Toxic Algae from Space”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on February 24, 2026 by Eumetsat. https://www.eumetsat.int/features/behind-data-observing-californias-toxic-algae-space 13: “Heterosigma Akashiwo San Francisco Bay”, Written by California Water Science Center. Published on February 4, 2026 by United States Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/california-water-science-center/news/heterosigma-akashiwo-san-fracisco-bay Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A gorgeous photograph of a European Common Cuttlefish. Credit to the Tennessee Aquarium. This month’s article series is going to be about the beautiful isle of Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus is a small Island Country in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the third most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea. The isle is approximately 37.22 nautical miles (42.832011 miles or 68.93144 kilometers) from the mainland country of Turkey on Asia Minor. Additionally, is approximately 149 miles long from east to west, & 62 miles from north to south at its widest point. Cyprus has been settled by various groups of people, since at least the Bronze Age approximately 13,000 to 12,000 years ago, giving time for its incredibly interesting & unique culture to develop. The isle is very well known for its rich culture & history, arts, & folk music. A strong part of the local culture is hospitality. Guests & visitors are almost always offered small amounts of food as a sign of appreciation, & are often served with a special kind of silver fork known as the protsoues. Cyprus contains a unique ecoregion known as the Cyprus Mediterranean Forests, known for its endemic species, temperate climate, & vast sprawling landscapes. Approximately 128 plants are endemic to these forests, as well as a sub-species of sheep. The island isn’t only diverse in its terrestrial landscapes, & is also highly diverse in its marine landscapes. This is shown in their beautiful sea caves, rocky shorelines, & seagrass meadows. One of the interesting species that inhabits these meadows, is the European Common Cuttlefish. The European Common Cuttlefish is a species of cuttlefish found all across Europe & the Atlantic Ocean. They are one of the largest & most well-known cuttlefish species on Earth. They are known for being highly migrational, & living on beds of sand or mud-beds. During the day, they will bury themselves in this substrate & remain inactive until evening, when they become lively & vivacious predators. Cuttlefish are incredibly important to Mediterranean Cuisine, & are prized for their ink. Their ink is used to dye pasta, as well as pasta sauce, black. Consuming this pasta is believed to have health benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, & anti-oxidant. In this article, we will delve into the discovery & life of the European Cuttlefish, the mating strategies of the European Cuttlefish, the distribution of the European Cuttlefish, & the scientific details of the European Cuttlefish. With that being said, let us delve into these beautiful cephalopods. The Discovery & Life Of The European Common Cuttlefish European Cuttlefish have been present throughout Mediterranean culture for hundreds of years, & were officially described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish taxonomist, naturalist, biologist, & zoologist. The largest common cuttlefish will reach 19.2913 inches (49 centimeters) long, however, the average size is a mere 9.84252 inches (25 centimeters). As far as cuttlefish are, they are quite heavy, having an average weight of 6.61387 pounds (3 kilograms). Cephalopods in general have very short lifespans, with the common cuttlefish being no exception, with a lifespan of one to two years. Cuttlefish are known for being amongst the smartest marine animals, with an almost unrivaled intellect. Though they are not as intelligent as octopuses, they are extremely capable creatures. In captivity, individuals can recognize caretakers, & exhibit self-restraint for a delayed reward. Throughout multiple studies, it has been shown that they have a level of reasoning, & the ability count. Overall, they are some of the most intelligent marine animals. Cuttlefish as a group have existed for approximately 23 million years, having evolved in the Miocene. In the wild, cuttlefish are rather shy, & avoid interaction with humans. While they aren’t aggressive to humans, they are incredibly aggressive towards each other & their prey. They are known for being vivacious & lively hunters towards smaller animals, & each other. Individuals are very territorial, fighting other cuttlefish violently if they encroach. However, they won’t always fight by physically attacking each other. Often, they will choose to show aggressive patterns on their skin instead. Apart from mating, common cuttlefish spend the majority of their lives in solitude. Cuttlefish swim through a method called undulatory swimming, popular amongst fish. They do this by oscillating their fins to move themselves forward. Individuals have a maximum speed of 2.5 meters per second. Their buoyancy is controlled through an interesting body part known as the cuttlebone. The cuttlebone is an inner shell made up of various chambers that a cuttlefish will pump air & water into to control its buoyancy. If a cuttlefish wishes to move up or down in the water column, it will pump air or water into its cuttlebone accordingly. The way that a cuttlefish sleeps is not the same way that humans sleep, in that cuttlefish don’t turn off their entire brains & sleep for long blocks of time. At the risk of being consumed, they cannot sleep for long periods. They have 3 different stages of sleep, those being REM Sleep, quiescent sleep, & active sleep. They will sleep for between three to 4 minutes while in REM sleep. Even while sleeping, their brains are still partially active, & guarded. The average diet of a common cuttlefish consists of small crustaceans, bivalves, shellfish, worms, small octopuses, fish, & occasionally each other. They are known to be cannibalistic, however, that is usually out of stress. They are nocturnal, & primarily hunt during the night, dawn, & dusk. Individuals locate food through a combination of odor, sight, & feel. By nature, they are ambush predators, meaning they hide & wait for prey in the sand instead of actively pursuing them. Once they feel an animal swim over them, they will reach their large arms out, grab the animal, pull it towards their mouth, & tear its flesh with its beak, & then consume the animal. Cuttlefish are preyed upon by many different animals such as seals, birds, fish, dolphins, & sharks. The appearance of a cuttlefish is vastly different depending on the environment, & the mood the cuttlefish is in. The patterns on their skin are ever-changing, & rarely stay the same for extended periods. Generally, they have large eyes, 2 long tentacles with 8 smaller arms, fins running down the length of their body, & are stalky. Thankfully as of 2026, the Common Cuttlefish is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The Mating Habits, Practices, Procedures, Techniques, Tactics, & Strategies Of The European Common Cuttlefish Common cuttlefish breed via sexual reproduction. They have 2 distinct sexes, & are not naturally hermaphroditic. This breeding system is polygynous, as male cuttlefish will take multiple partners in a lifetime, while females will often only take one. Female cuttlefish will take very few partners, & shortly after breeding, will lay their first clutch of eggs. Individuals mature very quickly at ages as young as 6 months. They do have a particular breeding season, that being spring. After maturing, they will wait until breeding season, when females will begin looking for a mate, & males will begin putting on extravagant shows. Male cuttlefish have this ritual of putting on an extravagant display using their skin to create patterns, & beckoning to females. When a female finds a male she deems suitable, the 2 will promptly copulate. Upon copulation, the male will have no role in the child’s life, & the females will often not breed again. The mother will gestate her young, before laying them in large clumps in shallow ocean water. The eggs will sit for 1 to 2 months before hatching into baby cuttlefish. Unlike octopuses, the mother will not guard her children, instead letting them fend for themselves. Soon after laying her eggs, the mother will pass away. The Distribution Of The European Common Cuttlefish Common Cuttlefish are found all across Europe, & the Atlantic Ocean. They may be found as far as the North Sea down to South Africa. They tend to prefer sandy ocean floors or flat mud beds, as they enjoy burying themselves during the daytime. They prefer shallower waters, & live from the coastline to the end continental shelf. Individuals are highly migrational, & will not stay in the same area for their whole lives. The deepest a common cuttlefish has ever been observed was 200 meters deep. The Scientific Details Of The European Common Cuttlefish Cuttlefish are most well known for their skin, which can create interesting patterns of color. They can do this through a set of small organs across their skin that controls ink sacs, allowing them to change their skin whenever they’d like. These organs are known as Chromatophores, & layered with 2 other organs known as Iridophores & Leucophores, which refract colored light & white light from the skin of the cuttlefish. Cuttlefish have a total of 3 hearts much like octopuses or squid. They have 2 branchial hearts which pump blood to their gills. At this point, the blood will take in oxygen & be sent off to the systemic heart. After this, the systemic heart will pump the blood all over the body. Their blood is also blue instead of red. The reason for this is due to a copper-rich protein known as Hemocyanin existing in their blood. The existence of this protein in their blood causes their blood to be blue. This is very similar to the iron in Hemoglobin in human blood. This blue blood exists in all cephalopods. If used properly, this blood can be used as a pigment or a dye. Cuttlefish are invertebrates, & do not have any hard areas apart from their cuttlebone & beak. Similar to humans, Cuttlefish have to worry about Parasites invading their bodies. The most common kinds of parasites are Dicyemids, & Nematodes. Their phylum is known as Mollusca. Mollusca is the 2nd largest phylum, just behind Arthopoda. Mollusca is however the largest marine phylum as it comprises approximately 23% of all documented marine species. The three most commonly found features defining modern species categorized under mollusks are the following: a mantle with a significant cavity used for breathing & excretion, the presence of a radula, and the structure of the nervous system. Their class is Cephalopoda. This class includes almost all species of cuttlefish, octopi, squid, & nautilus. Their order is Sepiida, which is the order of all Cuttlefish. All cuttlefish have an inner shell, known as a cuttlebone, which is used to control buoyancy. Their family is Sepiidae, which is one of the largest families of cuttlefish. Their genus is Sepia. This genus contains some of the most well-known Cuttlefish. This genus encompasses cuttlefish with an ellipsoid shape. Their binomial name is Sepia officinalis. A gorgeous pair of European Common Cuttlefish swimming near the bottom of the sea. Credit to underwater photographer David Nicholson. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Common Cuttlefish: Sepia Officinalis”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/common-cuttlefish Citation No. 2: “Common Cuttlefish”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/marine/squids-octopuses-and-cuttlefish/common-cuttlefish Citation No. 3: “Common Cuttlefish (Sepia)”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Dimensions. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://www.dimensions.com/element/common-cuttlefish-sepia-officinalis Citation No. 4: “Common Cuttlefish”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Animalia. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://animalia.bio/common-cuttlefish Citation No. 5: “Embracing Their Prey At The Dark Hour: Common Cuttlefish (Sepia Officinalis) Can Hunt In Nighttime Light Conditions”, Written by Melanie Brauckoff, Magnus Wahlberg, Jens Ådne Rekkedel Haga, Maria Wilson, & Hans Erik Karlsen, & Published on June 10th, 2020. Published by Frontiers. Retrieval Date: August 31st, 2024. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00525/full Citation No. 6: “Sepia Officinalis”, Written By Unknown, & Last Updated on March 29th, 2009. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature Red List. Retrieval Date: August 31st, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162664/939991 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Recently, our head writer was fortunate enough to sit down for an interview with Environmental Activist & Chair of Surf Rider-Chicago, Devin McAllester! Devin McAllester is an Environmental Activist & Chair of Surf Rider-Chicago known for his work with the Surf Rider Foundation. In today’s interview, we sit down with Devin to discuss his career, his passion for the Great Lakes, the beaches surrounding Chicago, the Surf Rider Foundation, & the programs of Surf Rider-Chicago in a comprehensive 17-question interview. Before delving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! The Contents of The Interview Questions About His Passion: 1. What sparked your passion for the ocean & marine science? I’ve always liked the water. I grew up playing on the beach, going kayaking, & playing in the waves. I grew up mostly in the Chicago Area. I liked to surf on Lake Michigan. I moved away for a long time, then I came back about 3 years ago & got back into surfing. I’ve gotten more involved in environmental advocacy, which eventually led to my current position at Surf Rider. 2. What sparked your passion for surfing? It’s the right mix of being outside, it’s exciting, & there’s an art to it that I like. It’s not something you can instantly pick up, you’re always honing your skills. The feeling of sliding down a wave is something else, it’s next level. It’s a beautiful sport. 3. Was there any particular person, place, moment, or piece of media that assisted in sparking your passion? If we’re talking about environmental advocacy & community organizing, I moved back to the Chicago area in 2023. In 2024, a beach near where I live that used to be free started charging people to get on the beach. You used to be able to just walk onto the beach, swimming wasn’t allowed, but it was totally free & open to the public. If you didn’t live in that village, you had to pay $10 per person to get on the sand. I felt that was deeply unfair. Because I was a surfer, & Surf Rider works on beach access, Surf Rider seemed like the kind of organization that might help work on that. I started working on trying to make that beach free again. I started attending Surf Rider events, which is sort of what kicked off my path to where I currently am in terms of environmental advocacy & community organizing. 4. What is your favourite terrestrial, or marine animal? I’m going with morning doves (Zenaida macroura). In my backyard, there are all sorts of birds. We have a little koi pond, & they like to come to take a bath. Morning doves always seem so relaxed & calm. They’re very sort of docile & humble birds. They’re not very showy. Other birds are kind of jerks, like the grackles, & the blackbirds. They enjoy attacking other birds. Morning doves have got this nice kind of call. They are very chill, friendly birds. They’re my favourite animal. A photograph of a pair of morning doves (Zenaida macroura) perched on a branch. Credit to Kevin M. McCarthy. Questions About His Work: 5. How would you describe the Surf Rider Foundation to someone who isn’t familiar? We’re an environmental nonprofit that weds wave, wind, & human powered sports with environmental activism. We work on beach access, & helping people access the water. We have fun events such as learn-to-surf days, & paddle out surfing competitions. We also work really hard on clean water. Whether that’s fighting industrial pollution, fighting plastic pollution, or working with restaurants to reduce single-use plastics. It’s an environmental nonprofit with a fun side. A photograph of the official Surf-Rider Foundation Logo. Credit to the Surf Rider Foundation. 6. How did you join Surf Rider-Chicago, & what is your current position with them? I started going to Surf Rider events in 2024 when working on the beach access issue in Wilmette, Illinois. I attended a few events in the summer, then in the following January (2025), they needed some help. The local chapter needed some help with the website & the email system, so I started doing that. I became their communications coordinator. Then, in January of this past year, we had elections, & I became their chair. I am now the chair of the Chicago chapter. 7. What are your responsibilities in your capacity as Chair? I lead our executive committee, so we have a whole leadership team. Everyone has different roles. We have our social media coordinator Milo who manages our Instagram & Facebook content. We’ve got Ted, who’s our volunteer coordinator. He does a lot of our event planning. We’ve got Quinten, our vice chair, Quentin’s helping with our water testing program. I help coordinate the efforts of all of our leadership team. I also serve as a spokesman for the chapter. If ABC wanted to do a piece on our beach cleanups, for instance, then I would help coordinate that, & might do some interviews. I help with direction. Obviously, we would decide on that as a team, but, I kind of steer that process. I manage those sorts of big things of coordinating & managing our campaigns & programs, making sure everything’s running smoothly. All that good stuff. 8. How would you describe your Great Lakes Friendly Restaurant program? The idea is essentially that a lot of single-use plastics come from dining. Imagine if you’re going & getting takeout. There’s a plastic foam takeout container, they toss some plastic silverware, there are little plastic ramekins, & oftentimes there’s a plastic bag. The idea is to collaborate with restaurants to both recognize restaurants that have eliminated single-use plastics, but just as importantly to help restaurants reduce those single-use plastics. There are incentives for restaurants, we offer discounts on restaurant supplies. If you wanted to buy stainless steel ramekins, or paper straws, if you were a participating restaurant, you would get discounts. It’s collaborative! We also try to promote them on our social media accounts, like our Instagram & our website. They get a sticker decal that they put on the front of their restaurant. We also have a dashboard on our website where you can see Great Lakes Friendly restaurants. Let’s say I was visiting San Diego, & I wanted to grab lunch. I could go on Surfrider’s website, find an Ocean Friendly restaurant, then choose that as where I get lunch so that I’m supporting a restaurant that’s working on reducing plastic. 9. How would you describe your Blue Water Task Force Program? The idea behind the Blue Water Task Force is that water testing at public swimming beaches usually has gaps. One gap could be seasonal, which is the gap we have in Chicago. They test in the summer, fall comes, the district stops testing, but people are still going in the water. The idea behind the Blue Water Task Force is to fill those gaps in water quality testing at public beaches. In Chicago, we’re trying to start up the program & Quinten’s leading the effort. We plan to focus on a few beaches in the off-season during fall & spring. There are a lot of people, especially in the fall when the water is warm, who are still going into the water. Water quality in Chicago varies wildly day to day. If we hadn’t had a lot of rain for a long time, the water quality could be good. You can have that sort of nice crystal clear blue water. If we get a lot of rain, it can get kind of murky, & it can be a little hard to tell whether or not the water is safe in terms of bacterial levels. Our goal is to test at three beaches in the fall & spring once per week. That information will be available to the public through our website. 10. How would you describe your Beach Cleanup program, & how often do you conduct beach cleanups? We conduct half a dozen to a dozen beach cleanups per year, mostly in the summer, but also in the spring & fall. The goal of the beach cleanups is threefold. Obviously, when you clean a beach, you’re taking all of this mostly plastic garbage off the beach, so you’re making it prettier. You’re reducing plastic pollution as well, & you’re preventing it from breaking down into those nasty microplastics & contaminating the water. That’s definitely an aspect. I think another important aspect is educating the public. If someone attends a beach cleanup they go down to the beach, they fill a bucket with a whole bunch of broken up plastic, & they get to see firsthand how bad the single-use plastic pollution problem is in sort of a visceral way that’s going to stick with them a lot more than some statistic. The third prong of our beach cleanup program is collecting data from all chapters across the country. Surf Rider has about 200 chapters & clubs. Then we aggregate that data, & it’s available on our website. It helps us communicate to policymakers the scale of the issue. To say we found X pounds of foam takeout containers on beaches this year helps us communicate to a policymaker that foam takeout containers are a serious problem. 11. Type 6 Plastic, PS (Polystyrene) commonly known as styrofoam, is one of the most destructive types of plastic due to its tendency to fragment. Surf Rider-Chicago is currently working to ban the sale of foam food service containers in the state of Illinois. Do you mind guiding us through your “Ban The Foam, Save The Shore” program? There’s currently a bill that’s being considered at the state level to ban polystyrene foam food service containers. That bill was brought to life by a broad coalition of environmental groups. Foam breaks down easily, & it sort of breaks into smaller, & smaller pieces without ever going away. That’s a pretty big problem, especially when you’re thinking about water. A foam container that ends up in the lake won’t biodegrade like a paper container. Instead, you end up with all these microplastics that end up in our water supply. They end up in the fish & the birds. We’re very hopeful that the state of Illinois will pass that bill, & that foam food service containers will become a thing of the past. A photograph of a classic 9-inch polystyrene foam food service container. Credit to HorizonMart. 11. What does your schedule look like week-to-week or day-to-day? I’m a volunteer, you have to set some sort of boundaries. You can’t spend your whole life on this, as much as perhaps I’d like to. I think that we have a lot going on. We have beach access issues, industrial pollution, water testing, & beach cleanups that need our attention, plus administration work. I think the biggest challenge for me is being able to focus my time on a particular issue & give it the attention that it needs. It’s easy to say “I’m going to spend 15 hours on Surf Rider this week!”, then you spend an hour here, an hour there, & it all sort of trickles away. I’m fairly new to being chair, I’ve been chair for less than 6 months. I’m still figuring out things in terms of my day-to-day schedule, I slide in Surf Rider where I can, when I can, when it’s needed. I do my best to give all of our various programs & campaigns my attention. 12. If someone were interested in volunteering with Surf Rider-Chicago, how would they approach you all? We have a calendar of events on our website. A great first step is to attend one of our beach cleanups or attend one of our fun events. We have learn-to-surf days, sea glass collection days, & rock collection days. Any of those are great opportunities to get involved. On our website, there is a volunteer interest form, where you can give us your contact information. If you’re interested in volunteering on the beach access issues, or if you’re interested in working on clean water issues, you can fill out that form & we’ll get back to you with ways you can help us out. 13. What are your plans as Chair for the chapter in the coming years? (2026, & 2027) We want to grow. Surf Rider-Chicago is a place for anyone who loves the lake. I think that we are not reaching the full breadth of engaging lake lovers that we could. All sorts of groups love the lake. There are kayakers, paddle-boarders, scuba divers, & snorkelers. One big goal of mine is to bring all those groups together so that we can collectively accomplish more in terms of environmental protection. I see Chicago as a beach city, just like Los Angeles. I think that it hasn’t fully realized its beach city potential. One of my big goals is helping more & more people get out there to enjoy the water. 14. What has been your biggest triumph or proudest moment across your career? I’ve only been Chair for about 6 months, I was on the executive committee for about a year before that as the communications coordinator. I feel that I & the chapter are in this position where we are building steam & heading towards our goals, but we haven’t fully realized them. I’m still super proud of everything that we’ve done. We organized a learn-to-surf day with a group called Latino Outdoors. Latino Outdoors is a nonprofit that helps the Latino Community get outside & enjoy the great outdoors. Latino Outdoors-Chicago is led by a wonderful organizer, Vicky, & we collaborated with her to host a learn-to-surf day. There were 17 participants, 12 volunteer surf instructors, & no waves at all! But, everyone had a blast. It turns out you don’t actually need waves to start to learn to surf. You can have people practice standing up on the beach, & they can practice paddling in the water. I think people had a great time, & it’s awesome to see people try surfing for the first time, dip their toes in the water, get excited about it, & watch their connection with the lake grow. 15. I’m sure that you have faced just as many challenges & setbacks as you have leaps forward, what has been the biggest hurdle or challenge that you have faced across your career, & how did you overcome it? I think the biggest challenge for anyone working in environmental protection or beach access is feeling as if there’s nothing that can be done. Hopelessness is the biggest challenge. I guess I have overcome by believing that a positive difference can be made, & that we can do something. It doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be the case that people are charged $25 to get on the beach. It doesn’t have to be the case that our water is filled with plastic garbage. We can do something about it, we will do something about it, & there will come a day when it’s not the case. 16. What is your advice to new ocean conservationists, aspiring ocean professionals, & passionate young people looking to make a positive impact on the sea? Just start working at it, & don’t give up! 17. Do you have any final words about marine science, the Surf Rider Foundation, the beauty of the sea, or ocean conservation? If you live near the water, you should go to the beach. Enjoy the day. Work hard to protect it, but also enjoy it. Directories / Credits https://chicago.surfrider.org/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Our Wonderful Staff Gwenevere Persaud - Executive Director Gwenevere Persaud is our faithful, dedicated, & extraordinarily industrious Executive Director. She has written the majority of our articles, operates every program, hosts every event, & coordinates our volunteers. In December of 2022, she founded The Persaud Foundation with the goal of protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Her favourite marine organism is the gorgeous Wolf Eel (Anarrichthys ocellatus). Jaela Balugo - Board Member Jaela Balugo is one of our amazing members of the dedicated Board of Directors. She is one of the most enthusiastic people about the ocean, about ocean education, & about marine science who has ever graced this planet. Jaela assists with overseeing our programs as a board member, votes on important issues, & assists with advising our science communication programs. Her favourite marine animal is the Baluga Whale for its intellect (and after her last name!). Our Wonderful Volunteers Jasper - Science Communication Volunteer Jasper is one of our delightful, passionate science communication volunteers, dedicated to sharks! Jasper adores sharks, & is currently assisting us in our online course program. Jasper's favourite shark is the Epaulette shark, pictured above! Kapish - Science Communication Volunteer Kapish is an intelligent, devoted science communication volunteer of ours, dedicated to the ocean. Kapish is currently assisting us in our Online Course program, working to create free micro-courses to educate the public on various issues plaguing our oceans. One of Kapish's favourite animals is the Sea Turtle, photographed above! August - Social Media Volunteer August is one of our lovely Social media volunteers, in charge of designing graphics for our social media & ensuring that our message gets heard by as many people as possible. He is one of the most passionate people about the ocean to ever grace this earth, & is the self-proclaimed biggest Squid Enthusiast in Europe. His favourite animal is the beloved Magnapinna Squid, photographed above in all of its eerie glory! Peyton - Science Communication Volunteer Peyton is one of our newest volunteers, with her work primarily focused on science communication through Social Media. She is incredibly passionate, affable, & one of the friendliest as well as most affable people we have had the pleasure of volunteering with us. Her favourite marine animal is the gorgeous & gargantuan Whale Shark! Micah - Science Communication Volunteer Micah is one of our esteemed volunteers, with his work primarily focused on science communication through our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog. He is determined, rises to the challenge. & one of our most disciplined volunteers. One of his favourite marine animals is the Sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, featured above in its sun-kissed glory! Credit to Leonardo Patrizi. Onifade - Social Media Volunteer Onifade is one of our creative social media volunteers, with his work primarily focusing on developing captivating informational graphics to be featured on our social media pages. He is determined, industrious, & has been an asset to our organization. His favourite marine animal is the dolphin, with the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin featured above in its oceanic glory. Luna - Science Communication Volunteer Luna is one of our esteemed science communication volunteers who primarily assists in designing our online micro-courses. Currently, she is assisting us in designing a free micro-course on How to Sustainably Tide Pool. She is kind & extraordinarily productive. Her favourite marine creature is the Sea Turtle, with the Leatherback Sea Turtle being photographed above. Orsolya - Science Communication Volunteer Orsolya is one of our extraordinary science communication volunteers who contributes to the newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is our primary writer on our The Pacific Tide article series & contributes actively to our Marine Biological Hall of Distinction article series. She is a freelance historian, model, former goat wrangler, & ocean enthusiast. She is detail-oriented & extremely industrious. Her favourite animal is the horse, & she is represented by the Slender Seahorse pictured above. Emily - Science Communication Volunteer Emily is one of our lovely Science Communication Volunteers who contributes to our newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is the primary writer for our new article series "Disasters at Sea". She also writes for another climate publication, GlacierHub, & is a graduate of UCSB, as well as an MA of Columbia University. Her favourite marine animal is the Mantis Shrimp, photographed above in its rainbow glory. John - Science Communication Volunteer John is one of our dedicated social media volunteers. He has been an asset to us throughout his time with the organization, & has been assisting with designing a new informational graphic series all about dolphins. In addition to volunteering with The Persaud Foundation, he volunteers with various organizations related to mental health & youth. Ashley - Social Media Volunteer Ashley is one of our industrious Social Media Volunteers. She is currently the primary volunteer working on our Marine Misinformation Monday Social Media Initiative. Apart from volunteering with The Persaud Foundation, she enjoys art, writing, & cetaceans. Her favourite marine animal is the Blue Whale, featured above in its colossal glory.

The Persaud Foundation is a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation We are a U.S 501(c)3 marine biological nonprofit organization, dedicated to protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. We currently run an electronic newsletter called The Persaud Catalog , publish online courses about marine biology, & conduct local conservation & education events in Southern California. The Three Pillars Of Our Organization Our Online Courses: We believe in promoting ocean literacy, supporting the ocean through education, and fostering people's oceanic curiosity. For this reason, in August 2024, we officially launched our first course. We currently have eleven courses available, with three more under construction. Every course can be found here. For updates, please sign up for our mailing list! Our Electronic Newsletter: For those who wish to advance their marine biological knowledge, we publish an electronic marine biological newsletter approximately 7 times per month. We publish on a variety of topics within marine biology, from ecology to individual ocean creatures. We strive to have an article for everyone, & attract marine biological enthusiasts, professionals in the field, & all those with a curious mind. Each article can be found here. Our Public Conservation Events & Public Educational Events: We frequently conduct conservation events in California, such as Beach Cleanups. We cannot do this without people like you! To find out the closest beach cleanup, please consult our Events Calendar. We appreciate each & every volunteer that we get, & highly recommend getting involved if you want to make a difference. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com or consult our Eventbrite page. In addition to this, we currently conduct local oceanic education events, which can also be found on our calendar. Reach Out To Us! Name Email Subject Message Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Submit Thank you for submitting! We willl respond to your message as soon as possible. What exactly does your organization do & what is its mission? We are dedicated to raising ocean literacy, protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. As of 2024, we operate a marine biological science communication newsletter “The Persaud Catalog”, published approximately 7 times per month, a marine biological online course program, & we conduct public marine biological conservation events in California. We are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in the U.S. What exactly are your online courses? We believe in protecting the ocean through conservation, & education. Education about the sea is essential to conservation, as people cannot understand the needs of the sea & its creatures if they do not understand our ocean & its creatures. We currently offer 11 online courses , with 3 more under construction and scheduled for release soon. Our courses vary in topic; however, they typically discuss marine creatures, as people cannot understand the needs of these marine animals if they do not understand the marine animals in the first place. Our online courses can be found here. What is the benefit of reading your newsletter? Our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog, publishes approximately 5 times per month, with topics of articles ranging from individual marine animals, to how marine resources were used in different areas historically. In addition, we conduct interviews with marine scientists, ocean ecologists, conservationists, & science communicators alike to share the beauty, value, & wonder of the ocean & marine science with as many people as possible. We work our hardest to provide interesting, informative, & engaging articles to our supporters. Each of our articles can be found in the articles tab of our website, or to search for a specific article or topic, please use our navigational bar. What is the Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey Program? Our Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey is a program designed to showcase the beauty of Santa Monica Bay, encourage more residents of the area to take an interest in their marine life, & provide a comprehensive list of the marine life in Santa Monica Bay. Anyone who wishes to support this project is encouraged to submit photographs here , where one of our staff or volunteers will process them, then use them to create a web entry on this page . Do you have an Oceanic Question or Question About our Nonprofit / Newsletter? Email Us & We’ll Get Back To You As Soon As Possible. Reach Out To Us

The Persaud Catalog is a marine biological newsletter, dedicated to bringing you knowledge of Earth's oceans, & the creatures in them. Donate Today To Save Our Oceans! As a nonprofit, we will graciously accept donations. These donations go towards educating the world more about marine biology, as well as assisting our oceans. At this time, all donations to us are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We are classified as a 501 (c)3 private foundation with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Legal Disclosure: For our U.S based donors, please note that you are donating to a Private Foundation classified under section 501(c)3. Frequency One time One time Monthly Monthly Amount $1 $1 $5 $5 $10 $10 $20 $20 $50 $50 Other Other 0/260 Comment (optional) Donate $1