Bioluminescent displays visible from Pier 39

Occasional blooms of bioluminescent plankton in San Francisco Bay have produced glowing patches of water visible from the Embarcadero and Pier 39 at night. These displays, caused by organisms such as Noctiluca and other dinoflagellates, have been reported by local news outlets and observed by residents and visitors from waterfront piers. The glowing water is most visible on calm, dark nights when waves or boat wakes stir the organisms near shore.