A large amount of the coastal animal and plant life is adversely affected by the occurrence of the tide, and because of that the livelihood of the fishermen is also hurt. No wonder that many believe that the biblical "water turning to blood" was actually a reference to a Red Tide!
Red Tide Algae
The Red Tide is a terrifying phenomenon that haunts the Earth’s coastlines. At certain times of year, the waters may turn a rust color as thousands of tiny seaweeds known as (Algera pelagius) multiply after mysterious influxes of nutrients, often in combination with temperature changes. The algae is rapidly absorbed by shellfish, and is extremely neurotoxic. The highly lethal bloom may rapidly paralysis limbs, and even worse, it anesthetizes the respiratory pathways upon exposure through contaminated shellfish. The Red Tide is considered to be the basis of the Biblical Plague where the waters turned to blood, and was noted to have caused the death of one of Captain George Vancouver’s crew upon the navigation of Western Canada. States and provinces have been closed to harvesting as a result of “paralytic shellfish poisoning” threats. In addition to human victims, entire beaches have been covered dead seabirds and ducks that were exposed to the toxic algae. Red Tide just might explain some of the mysterious animal deaths noted on a recent list.
It really wouldn't bother me if I never saw another Red Tide, ya know? Enough is enough in some cases.
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. It's still raining, but today that's a good thing!
