Red Tide

RED TIDE

by Antonio C. Antonio

October 6, 2014

The term “red tide” is a common name for a phenomenon known as an “algal bloom”.  This has plagued the Philippines in the past three decades and has caused the death of countless Filipinos aside from its negative economic effects on the fishing industry; especially those involved in the collection of shellfish such as tahong, clams, prawns and other shellfish species.

Red tide is caused by dinoflagellates which are small organisms that float near the surface of the sea.  This algal bloom takes on a red or brown color… the main influence in the common name “red tide”.  This phenomenon is an event that becomes evident as estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate in the water column resulting in the red or brown coloration of the surface water.  The main sources of red tide are the industrial and domestic wastes thrown into waterways (streams and rivers) which eventually make their way to larger water bodies such as the seas and oceans.

Most affected by red tide are the shellfish.  Curiously, however, these shellfish are not killed by the dinoflagellates in cases of low-level ingestion.  Humans, who eat red tide infected shellfish, are the most affected and can lead to death depending on the body’s capacity to fight poison.  Red tide poisoning, as a result of eating shellfish, is known as “paralytic shellfish poisoning” or PSP.  Symptoms, felt 30 minutes after eating contaminated shellfish, include:

1.     Numbness;

2.     Dizziness and vomiting;

3.     Severe headache;

4.     Paralysis of extremities;

5.     Increase heartrate;

6.     Weakness; and,

7.     Difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing.

Red tide is a less understood phenomenon and most people even think that red tide is marine-borne.  I would like to highlight that the main cause of red tide are the industrial and domestic wastes thrown into our waterways.  So the next time you throw waste materials into a stream or river, please consider that this stupidity could result to red tide.

Just my little thoughts…

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