Toxic algae warnings
THOUSANDS of suffocating fish have been spotted dying off a Westcountry beauty spot where the sea has been turned red by what experts believe could be a rare killer bloom of toxic algae.
Warnings have been issued around St Austell Bay where the mysterious rusty brown seas threaten to poison bathers, infect food and kill off marine life.
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A satellite image from Plymouth Marine Laboratory showing algal blooms along Britain's south west coastline. Intense levels of chlorophyl are red, with blue the least intense. Inset: Gulls enjoy easy pickings
The bizarre phenomenon has left fisherman and experts baffled as shoals of fish appear to be coming to the surface – apparently desperate for oxygen.
Gulls have been seen enjoying a feeding frenzy this week on dover sole and other flat fish that normally live at the bottom of the ocean but have been floundering at the surface.
Fisherman Rob Preston, 53, said that in the last three weeks the water in the picturesque bay popular with swimmers, anglers, and commercial fisherman, has been turning reddish brown and is foamy and sludgy.
Mr Preston, chairman of Mevagissey Fisherman's Association and a commercial fisherman, said that the last time the phenomenon was seen in the 1970s all the fish and shellfish in St Austell Bay died – and fish were so desperate for oxygen that they flipped themselves onto the beach where hundreds died.
It is thought that algal blooms are to blame.
Mr Preston said: "For about two or three weeks the water in St Austell Bay has been brown. It's been getting worse, especially in the last few days.
"The last time this happened in summer, something like this, was in the 70s. It was either algae, plankton or something like that.
"Last time there were little flat fish flipping up the beach trying to get out of the water.
"I think what happened in the 70s is happening now. If it happens then everything will die."
Mr Preston said the only other explanation he could think of was the absence of naturally occurring annual plankton blooms in April and May.
Cornwall Chief Fishery Officer Edwin Derriman said the algae bloom, could be toxic.
"This happened about seven or eight years ago in a small area in nearby Veryan Bay but nobody reported it and it resulted in a decrease in the amount of shellfish in the area," he said.
"It does not happen in Cornwall very often – sometimes in the River Fal.
"It usually occurs when there is very fine weather and the temperatures are warm and there is a plankton bloom."
He said there was a possibility the bloom could leave toxins in the shellfish which could be passed down the food chain.
He has contacted the Environment Agency and the Marine Biological Association "just in case".
3 Comments
by t, st austell
Friday, December 04 2009, 11:59PM
“http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii210/martyn3462/?albumview=slideshow
in the summer my friend and i went to par beach st austell cornwall far side by par docks
the sea was out and we started walking out to the sea and got stuck in a black thick sinking sand, which came up to our knees (2 1/2 foot) it was very hard to get out, i got my hands suck trying to free my legs and lost my shoes.
once we got out it was stuck to our legs and arms it was like oily glue very hard to wash off
the smell was unbearable it smelt like feces it took our breathe away and we was nearly sick.
the smell stayed with us all night and we was ill
if this was a small child or a elderly person they would not be able to get out, we are 25 and 30 years old and we found it very hard job to get out. we did notice there was odd shoes there so others have got stuck to.
wouldnt like to be stuck when the sea comes in.
when there is a bit of sun the smell is so bad you cant breath.
today i went there again and was shocked !!! theres was so much rubbish, sea weed (2-3ft high) condoms, plastic gloves, dead fish ect it covered over half the beech
it is disgusting not fit to be open
every time my dog (staffy) goes down there he gets foam dripping from his mouth which doesnt happen at other beechs
he jumped on the sea weed today and cut his paw badly, under the sea weed was broken glass.
this place is also a holiday park where many familys take there children. NO signs there why???
i shall not be going down there again as its not safe.
something has to be done now before its to late.
above is photos taken today of the beach- disgusting!!!”
by former brit, Florida
Thursday, August 13 2009, 3:41PM
“Ah the infamous red-tide - scourge of Florida beaches. Warn people to stay away during these algae blooms - breathing in the particulates can cause a severe cough and lung irritation. Would have thought the Devon/Cornwall waters were too deep and too cold for this.”
by R H, St Austell
Thursday, August 13 2009, 2:19PM
“I took my daughter swimming in the water at Par Beach last week and she has been really ill with sickness and diarrhoea - resulting in a visit to the Hospital.
The Doctors are unaware of what is wrong with her , but she is feeling better now.
Could this algae have been the cause?
If there is even the slightest possibility, why are there no warning signs on the beaches?”