Government warns about West Coast red tide build up

A harmful algal bloom, better known as a red tide, has been building up at Elands Bay on the West Coast, about 220km north of Cape Town, and has resulted in several marine species washing up on the beach. The washed up marine species include, rock lobsters, octopus, white mussels and some fish species. Poisoning may either take place through the consumption of contaminated seafood or by toxic aerosols or water-bound compounds that cause respiratory and skin irritation. We spoke to Dr Grant Pitcher- specialist scientist on aquaculture research at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).