5 tons of rock lobster walk out of ocean along West Coast due to red tide

An estimated FIVE TONS of rock lobster have walked out of the sea on the West Coast in the Western Cape since Tuesday, 7 February 2023, due to a red tide (harmful alga bloom).

RED ALERT OUT FOR ROCK LOBSTER

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DAF) has activated the West Coast Rock Lobster Contingency Plan and issued a Situation Red Alert placing all government role-players in the sector on full alert and ready to deploy on short notice to activate measures.

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DAF spokesperson Albi Modise says in terms of the contingency plan; the department is the lead, supported by the West Coast District Municipality, Cederberg Municipality, South African Police Services (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Western Cape Province and the local communities adjacent to the affected areas.

Modise says they work closely with communities to assist with the beach clean-up and recovery of live rock lobster.

These rock lobsters will be rehabilitated and safely returned to sea once the red tide has abated.

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This phenomenon often occurs in late summer when there has been a build-up of large red tide in the greater St. Helena Bay region.

These phytoplankton blooms presently extend 50-60km dominating waters in the vicinity of Elands Bay, Lambert’s Bay and Doring Bay.

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The risk of further mortalities is high with the prediction of light westerly winds over the next few days.

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Red tides are a natural phenomenon in coastal waters caused by a dense accumulation of microscopic algae.

Some of the algal species are harmful because they contain toxins that are poisonous to humans.