SF Chronicle: “Unbelievable hordes” of fish near California coast

[Lodestar]

SF Chronicle: “Unbelievable hordes” of fish near California coast; Most birds, sea lions, dolphins, whales anywhere — Expert: ‘Off the charts’ pelican population “highly unusual… could reflect breeding failures elsewhere”; “Abnormal ocean conditions” to blame?

http://enenews.com/sf-chronicle-unbelievable-hordes-of-fish-along-california-coast-highest-number-of-marine-birds-sea-lions-dolphins-whales-expert-off-the-charts-pelican-population-highly-unusual-c

[mike_c]

1. if I'm not mistaken, this is shaping up to be a monster El Nino year in the Pacific....

During the last big one, in summer 1997, I recall tuna very close inshore, much more so than normal, feeding on bait fish schools where the water would normally be too cold. As I write this, it's sunny and looking like another warmer than usual spring day (temperatures exceeded 80 F on the north coast yesterday, which is rare at any time, but especially so this early in the year.

[FBaggins]

3. Nah... that can't be it.

The "reporting" (sic) in this case comes from enenews.

So, of course, the increase in sea life will either be credited to the shutdown of San Onofre... or it will be the result of the creatures fleeing the plume of Fukushima radiation filling the Pacific...

... or if it is El Nino, then it will be caused by warmer water heated up by the still active nuclear cores from Fukushima that have escaped into the Pacific.

[mike_c]

5. LOL-- oops, missed that....

Hot radioactive water..., yeah, that's the ticket!

[KurtNYC]

2. Orcas killed a baby grey in Monterey Bay

I saw the same thing in 1997 but it was off the coast of Ventura, in the channel. About 5 orcas ripped open this baby grey and blood poured out like 5 firehoses going full blast. Brutal. The kids on our boat were crying. The mother whale had been slashing at them with her massive tail but they would duck under and then pop up right next her.

Had to click through to the other article because I feel stupid reading phrases like "unbelievable" and "off the charts" in a scientific report:
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Monterey-Bay-s-bustling-marine-life-brings-5432568.php#photo-6219669

[Laelth]

4. Much better link. Thanks. n/t

-Laelth