Red tide will not affect sea-related events, swimming

DESPITE tests revealing the algal bloom causing a red tide along the Garden Route is toxic, authorities have decided not to cancel ocean-related events or to discourage swimming. Professor Brian Allanson, of the Knysna Basin Project, concluded after toxicity tests that the algal bloom was harmful only to filter feeders, including mussels, oysters and shellfish.

The local Action Pollution Committee has decided it is not necessary to cancel any water activities, including events such as the Rotary Splash Festival or the Lagoon Mile swim in Knysna this weekend. There was no evidence that swimmers had been harmed during red tides, it said. However, people must not eat any shellfish or fish that had washed up on the shore.