11/12/2015

The harmful bloom forming dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum is back in the coastal waters off the Eastern Cape coast.

High Risk of Harmful Algal Blooms along the Eastern Cape coastline

The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) and the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) sampled several red tide blooms in Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay on 10 Desember 2015 and confirm that the Harmful Algal Bloom forming dinoflagellate, Lingulodinium polyedrum, has made a return to our shores. Sea conditions are currently optimal for bloom formation with high surface temperatures (>22 degrees C) and cold (<12 degrees C) nutrient rich bottom water. There is a high likelihood of extensive bloom formations over the 2015/2016 summer period. All users of the coastal environment are advised not to eat shellfish or any dead fish that washes up on the shore.