The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has warned the public not to consume any dead marine life that washes ashore on West Coast beaches due to the annual red tide.
Also read: Public warned against consuming fish due to red tide in Garden Route
DFFE spokesperson Peter Mbelengwa told TimesLIVE that large numbers of dead marine animals, including prawns, crabs, cuttlefish, seaworms and shark rays, were reported from the Berg River mouth area close to Velddrif and mostly inside the estuary.
‘Small numbers of lobsters were also present, both at the mouth of the estuary and adjacent shoreline. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment would like to caution members of the public not to eat the washed-out marine animals.’
‘The appearance of washed-up lobsters carries significant health risks, rendering them unsuitable for consumption. Uncertainty surrounding their time of death, coupled with potential contamination by algal toxins, poses dangers to human health.’
He adds that ingesting these toxins can lead to severe adverse reactions and even death.
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‘The department, in collaboration with various national and local authorities, has swiftly responded to the walkouts through the West Coast Rock Lobster Walkout Contingency Plan.’
‘This comprehensive plan involves collecting live lobsters, relocating them to areas with normal oxygen levels, and ensuring the safe disposal of deceased lobsters. Simultaneously, scientists closely monitor the red tide, document the species washed ashore, and conduct analyses, including size and sex.’
He says large-scale lobster walkouts have significant consequences for the marine ecosystem and local economies alike.
‘Recent research by the department’s crustacean research team uncovered substantial reductions in lobster densities following walkouts of 550 tonnes in 2022 and 100 tonnes in 2023, particularly impacting Elands Bay.’
‘This decline in lobster density translates to reduced catches in subsequent seasons, exacerbating economic challenges for west coast fishing communities heavily reliant on the lobster resource.’
Red tides contain vast amounts of phytoplankton (single-cell algae) and are common during late summer and autumn along the West Coast.
Although most phytoplankton are harmless, some are not, Mbelengwa warns, adding that those are referred to as harmful algal blooms or HABS.
‘These blooms may be harmful due to their toxicity and/or due to their drastically reducing oxygen levels in the sea as they begin to decay. These, in turn, often result in mass mortalities of marine organisms.’
He says the best-known effect is on the West Coast rock lobster known as Jasus lalandii.
‘When oxygen levels drop, lobsters move inshore where wave action causes mixing of the water and slight increases in levels of oxygenation. When low tide sets in, they are left behind on the beach or are washed up onto the beach by the waves.’
Female lobsters migrate towards shallower inshore water where dissolved oxygen levels are higher during the late summer months.
‘This strategic movement is aimed at optimising conditions for the development of eggs during the berry stage of reproduction.’
Due to this, females and juveniles typically reach these shallow areas earlier than males.
‘Consequently, they are more prone to becoming stranded on beaches, leading to a disproportionately higher number of lobster fatalities among females during this period.’
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Picture: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment / Facebook