Dear Tunza Friends,

Recently we saw quite some rain in UAE which is not very common here. As a result the toxic algal bloom, commonly known as 'red tide', which can devastate marine plant and animal life, were suspected on UAE beaches. Beaches in Abu Dhabi(UAE?s capital) were on red tide alert, while red tide along the Dubai coastline prompted the Dubai Municipality to close the beaches near the iconic Burj Al Arab and Umm Suqueim Park. The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water kept  monitoring the presence of algal bloom or overgrowth of microscopic marine plants in the country?s territorial waters. It was also working in cooperation with the Regional Organisation for Protecting Marine Environment on controlling the phenomenon and minimising its impact on marine life by working on a surveillance programme by satellites to monitor the biological activity on the UAE?s coast so as to react swiftly to tackle the red tide whenever it happens.

A team of experts from the ministry collected samples from different parts of the country?s coasts overlooking the Arabian Gulf, to conduct laboratory tests to find out the percentage of algal concentrations in the waters.

Later the toxic algal bloom was  seen dissipating because the rains had ceased.

When this was happening , I was very curious to know in details about algal bloom /red tide , causes & its consequences. I would like to share with you what I learnt as follows:

The marine phenomenon, which scientists refer to as ?harmful algal bloom?( known as HABs) happens when tiny algae like Phytoplankton or marine plants rapidly multiply that can often deplete oxygen in the water or produce natural toxins. These toxins could kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat in what is commonly known as ?red tide? because the overgrowth of algae usually turns the seawater red. This may also harm local ecosystems, sometimes with a negative impact on human health and the economy.

Phytoplankton, also known as microalgae ,is responsible for about half of the Earth's photosynthesis and ultimately provides the food that is transferred up the food chains to fish and marine mammals. Most species of phytoplankton are harmless

I learnt that Red tides affected the UAE?s eastern shores in 2008 and 2009, resulting in the death of a large number of fish. Also in August 2008 , Fish were found washed up near Muscat, Oman as a result of a red tide.

According to studies, this increasing occurrence of algal blooms is probably a result of a combination of two things: natural and anthropogenic (due to human influences) activities.

In the case of a red tide, people are advised to avoid swimming in waters where algal blooms have been known to occur, avoid sitting on a beach where algae have been washed ashore, keep children away from affected waters and shores and avoid eating seafood that has been collected from the algal bloom area, as it may be contaminated.


Sources :
1. Gulf News
2. The National
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide
4. http://news.discovery.com/earth/red-tide-plankton.htm
5. http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/
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