Purple Waves Are Crashing On Marin County Beach: Here's Why

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Over the weekend in the North Bay, locals may have seen strange purple waves crashing onto the Point Reyes coast.

Residents from the Bay Area, and specifically Marin County, are certainly familiar with red and other colorful tides appearing along the coast, but this shade of purple was particularly eye-catching.

“Purple waves are caused by a bloom of juvenile salps, which are gelatinous creatures related to fish. These salps can create a striking purple appearance in the water when they wash ashore in large numbers,” according to The West Marin Feed, a local news account, that posted a photo of lavender surf crashing on the shore by local artist Marilyn Beck.

In 2015, mysterious purple waves also appeared on the Oregon coast, baffling scientists. Dr. Caren Braby of ODFW's Newport office, told the Oregon Coast Beach Connection, a local news site, they identified the phenomena also as a large bloom of salps.

SEE ALSO: These Mysterious Creatures Are Washing Up On Bay Area Beaches. Here's What To Know

Often mistaken for jellyfish, these barrel-shaped, gelatinous zooplankton lack tentacles, according to the Nippon Foundation Nereus Program.

"Unlike jellyfish, they also have complex nervous and digestive systems with a brain, heart and intestines," the institute stated. They also reported consume food "through a mesh by pumping water through their bodies.”

SEE ALSO: California Coast Glows Blue Again. Here's Why!

Phytoplankton is salps’ preferred meal, according to NFNP.

The abundance of phytoplankton can also rapidly alter the color of the water, NASA reported.

A plankton bloom is a swift and significant spike in the localized plankton population, often appearing and dissipating within a few days. Blooms typically arise from a combination of sunlight, available nutrients, and shifts in water temperature. Ocean currents influence both the delivery of nutrients and the sustainment or restriction of the bloom through water movement, according to NASA.

While most colored tides in California are not caused by species that produce dangerous toxins like domoic acid or the paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins, phytoplankton blooms can sometimes be formed by toxin-producing organisms. Consequently, it is wisest to err on the side of caution and assume a bloom is toxic until further information is available, according to California Sea Grant.

Signs of harmful algal blooms include a bright green, blue, brown, or red color to the water, sometimes appearing like paint floating on the surface, the California Department of Public Health reported. The water may also look cloudy. Additionally, a very bad odor, similar to a sewer smell or rotten eggs, can be an indicator. You may also observe dead plants and/or fish. It is important to note that toxins may persist for days in the water, even after the cells have died and the water appears clear.

The CDC recommends avoiding illness from harmful algal blooms by staying out of discolored, scummy or smelly water and keeping pets away. Also, check for and follow swimming, fishing, and shellfish advisories, and heed local guidance if a harmful algal bloom impacts your drinking water.

Sickness can result from contact with water or food containing certain types of algae, cyanobacteria, or their toxins. Exposure can happen by being in or near contaminated water, swallowing it, eating contaminated shellfish or fish, or using contaminated blue-green algae dietary supplements. Immediately rinse off with tap water if a person or animal has been in water with an algal bloom, according to the CDC.

If symptoms are suspected, the CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider or the Poison Control hotline at 1-800-222-1222. If pets or livestock are sick after water exposure, owners can call a veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 — fees apply.

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