TheGalveston County Health District (GCHD)asked beachgoers to be cautious after issuing a red tide advisory for beaches in the area on Monday.
According to GCHD Chief Executive Officer Phillip Keiser, red tide conditions can change fast and affect people differently depending on where they are along the coast.
"We encourage residents and visitors to pay attention to how they are feeling, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory conditions,” Keiser said in a news release. “If you begin experiencing coughing, throat irritation or difficulty breathing, leave the affected area and move indoors.”
Red tide occurs when a certain type of algae increases in coastal waters. The algae can produce airborne toxins that make the surrounding air difficult to breathe. According to theTexas Parks and Wildlife Department (TWPD), red tide algae can form reddish patches of ocean water, sometimes killing fish.
GCHD health officials said there have been reports of dead fish and respiratory symptoms in several locations across Galveston County.
TPWD reported moderate to high concentrations of red tide in water samples collected from Galveston Island, Bolivar Peninsula and Crystal Beach, according to Galveston County officials. TWPD staffers said biologists began receiving reports of a red tide bloom off the coast of Galveston on Sept. 8.
Galveston resident Angela Derringer toldHouston Public Mediathat she noticed her dog, Coco, sneezing while walking along a Galveston beach recently. Just a few days later, on Sept. 12, Derringer saw dozens of dead fish lining the shore.
"Just as far as you could see, there were fish just lining the shore," Derringer said. "That’s when I grabbed my phone and I’m like, ‘What’s going on?' and that’s when I connected [Coco] sneezing to the red tide and the fish."
Health officials also advised against handling dead fish or other marine animals and suggested only consuming seafood from approved, inspected and licensed sources.
A red tide respiratory forecast for the Gulf Coast can be found on the NOAA website.
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