More NSW beaches have been closed as red algal blooms are spotted along much of the state's coast. <\/p>\n
Large streaks of red algae were spotted off North Wollongong beach on Thursday and Clovelly, Bronte and Tamarama beaches were all shut. <\/p>\n
On the city's northern beaches, Bilgola, Mona Vale, Palm Beach and Newport were also closed due to outbreaks, while splashings of red algae were spotted at Newcastle. <\/p>\n
'We were out fishing at Stockton this morning and we came across a little bit out there,' Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club president Brad Kinniard told AAP. <\/p>\n
It was the first time he had seen a red bloom, despite being in the area for more than 25 years, he said. <\/p>\n
A spokesman for the NSW Office of Water said there were also sightings of the tomato-juice coloured blooms as far south as Batemans Bay, which while not formally identified, were likely to be Noctiluca scintillans, which is caused by an upwelling of colder nutrient-rich water. <\/p>\n
He said it was difficult to predict whether the warmer weather forecast for the weekend would increase bloom outbreaks. <\/p>\n
'It's really up to mother nature and the current weather and ocean conditions prevailing,' he told AAP on Thursday. <\/p>\n
A bloom was first spotted at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach at 6.30am (AEDT) on Tuesday, with subsequent outbreaks at Clovelly Beach and Gordons Bay. <\/p>\n
Also called 'red tide' or 'fire in the sea', the algae is non-toxic but contains high ammonia levels that can cause minor skin irritation if you swim in it. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See the rest here:<\/p>\n
Beach algae still causing red alert<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" More NSW beaches have been closed as red algal blooms are spotted along much of the state's coast. Continue reading