Texas Beaches Get Relief from Red Tide

Good news for Texas beachgoers – the infamous red tide, which has plagued the Texas coast for close to two months, has waned to the point of no longer being a problem. This most recent occurrence of the algae bloom, which is deadly to fish and other small marine life, originated off the coast of South Padre Island. Eventually, the bloom crept into the Laguna Madre bay, behind South Padre, and up the coast as high as Corpus Christi.

Although it can be fatal to fish, it is harmless to humans in the water. Where it becomes a problem for humans is after it washes on the beach and dries. At that point, it releases an aerosol, which can cause allergy-like reactions such as itchy eyes, nausea and sneezing. These symptoms, coupled with piles of dead fish, has kept visitors away from South Texas beaches for months. However, since the weather has begun to cool slightly, the bloom has waned to the point of not even being noticeable. As fall wears on, the tide should disappear completely. So, after months of waiting, it is once again pleasant to visit the beach along the South Texas coast.