Unusual red tide continues

The Harrison County Sand Beach Authority has scooped up more than 30 tons of dead fish in two days – all due to a rare red tide.

Crews have been working around the clock and will continue to as long as dead fish keep washing up on the coast’s shoreline. A red tide occurs when a type of algae bloom releases harmful toxins in the water.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources urges residents to not eat or harvest any of the dead fish. Sand Beach Authority officials say fish aren’t the only dead animals washing up on the Gulf Coast beaches, so are birds. South Mississippi will continue to see dead fish wash up on shore, unless we see colder temperatures or an increase in fresh water.

For more information on the red tide, visit dmr-dot-ms-dot-gov.