The algae bloom known as red tide has returned to Texas and is being blamed for some fish kills, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department reported Tuesday.
Experts are monitoring the red tide, located mainly in the Corpus Christi area, to determine how widespread the bloom has become, according to Alex Nunez, a coastal ecologist with the agency.
The bloom, named for its reddish color, was first noticed Sunday by University of Texas Marine Science Institute personnel around the fish pass jetties on Mustang Island off the southern coast of Texas. Samples collected Monday identified concentrations at Port Aransas and Corpus Christi. The bloom is suspected in fish kills near Corpus Christi and at San Jose Island.
"Right now we're just kind of doing a shoreline, determining the extent of the kills and the bloom. Our efforts are focusing mainly on the extent of the bloom," Nunez said.
The last time parts of Texas had red tide was in October 2014, Nunez said.
Red tide involves a toxin in algae that can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning in humans who consume it. The toxin can remain in the tissue of oysters, clams, mussels and whelks for weeks after red tide is no longer visible in the water.
The bloom produces a toxin that can be released into the air due to wave activity, Nunez said.
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"So when the toxins are put into the air, then it causes irritation for folks, their eyes get irritated, their noses get irritated, they get runny noses, they will cough and sneeze," Nunez said. "If you are susceptible to any of these irritants, you may want to not go to that particular area that's affected."
Anglers usually know to avoid algae blooms, since fish generally stay away from those areas, he said.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department experts plan to see how the bloom progresses in upcoming weeks, with factors such as wind having an effect on helping dissipate red tide, Nunez said.
