Red tide hits Bay coastline

Researchers have confirmed that a red tide is currently spread along the Nelson Mandela Bay coastline.

Dr Tommy Bornman, manager at the South African Environmental Observation Network, based at NMMU, said the brown-red discolouration in the water, stretching from Bird Island all the way around to Seaview, could be similar to the red tide experienced in 2014.

“We have eight research station along the coast currently taking samples for testing. We need to have look at it under a microscope first, but by tomorrow we should know if it was the same as last time and if it holds any danger for any animals or people,” Bornman said.

In 2014 a toxic red tide came to NMB waters for an extended period of time, leading to concern over eating certain shellfish caught along the affected coastline.