SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (AP) _ Experts say the algae bloom known at red tide has showed up in high concentrations on the beach at South Padre Island.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department says water samples show lesser concentrations near the South Padre Island convention center.
Fish kills were confirmed Monday in the area, plus at Padre Island National Seashore, Boca Chica beach and Port Mansfield.
South Padre Island, a year-round beach spot and spring break destination, was excluded from Saturday’s coastal beach cleanup for safety reasons due to red tide.
The reddish bloom can kill fish and lead to shellfish poisoning in humans who consume it. Red tide aerosols, kicked up through wave action, can cause breathing troubles in humans.
Signs of red tide were also confirmed near Pelican Island and at Port Aransas (uh-RAN’-sus).
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GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — An estimated 8,000 volunteers have removed trash from 21 Texas beaches in a cleanup effort scaled back due to the algae bloom called red tide.
The 29th annual Texas adopt-a-beach fall cleanup happened Saturday morning from Beaumont to Corpus Christi.
Texas General Land Office spokeswoman Renee Tuggle says some beaches, southward to the Rio Grande Valley, were excluded due to red tide and safety concerns. Tuggle says the cleanup usually draws about 10,000 volunteers, but the numbers were lower this year due to nine fewer sites than usual.
Red tide involves a toxin that can cause shellfish poisoning in humans who consume it. Aerosols produced by red tide can cause breathing trouble.
Scattered fish kills have been reported since red tide surfaced in Texas this month.