GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A Red tide has been observed in the Garden Route with reports from Plettenberg Bay, Storms River Mouth, Swartvlei Beach, Wilderness and Glentana.
According to a post on Stranloper Project's Facebook page, samples are being collected for analysis, but initial identification is of Noctiluca scintillans.
It is a plantonic dinoflagellate, which taints the surface water red/orange and can result in bioluminescence at night.
"Algal Blooms of Noctiluca scintillans are associated with eutrophication, the enrichment of water with nutrients (usually agricultural nutrients that flow into the ocean during rainyperiods) which stimulates an algal bloom," reads the post.
While Noctiluca scintillans is not considered a health risk, until the identification is confirmed, it is advised not to collect bivalves (oysters, clams and mussels) and to refrain from eating any washed up marine life.
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