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Toxic algae bloom hits Mississippi coast, closes beaches: What you need to know

Brian Broom
Mississippi Clarion Ledger
  • Freshwater coming into the Gulf because of flooding is playing role in outbreak.
  • Exposure can cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
  • State is advising against consumption of fish or other seafood from where bloom is present.
  • Areas of Gulf not affected by bloom are OK for fishing, seafood consumption.

Freshwater intrusion from the Bonnet Carre Spillway opening in Louisiana has, in part, caused an outbreak of blue-green algae along areas of the Mississippi coast. Consequently, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has closed beaches, and the bloom's presence has raised questions about health risks and the safety of local seafood.

"In Hancock County especially, we've been seeing the algae for two weeks," said Mark Wright of Legends of the Lower Marsh fishing charters. "With this hot weather it exploded.

A toxic algae bloom can be seen from the air along the Mississippi coast.

"It seems to be isolated to the western part of the (Mississippi) Sound for the most part. Near Pass (Christian) and Cat Island we're seeing pockets of it."

Where he's encountering the algae, Wright has noticed something unusual — an absence of life.

"I haven't seen dead animals in it," Wright said. "In fact, I haven't seen any animals around it. You don't see birds around it or anything like that."

How does blue-green algae affect humans?

Blue-green algae is the common name, but in reality it's not an algae at all. Its less common name is cyanobacteria and, according to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, it is a bacteria that can produce toxins. The MDEQ stated exposure can cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

At this point, MDMR has not detected toxins at harmful levels, but that can quickly change. Because of that, the agency is performing ongoing testing.

"We're running tests every day — numerous tests — us and USM (University of Southern Mississippi) both," said MDMR Executive Director Joe Spraggins. 

Is Mississippi seafood safe to eat?

Even though harmful levels of cyanobacteria toxins have not been detected, state agencies are advising against consuming fish or other seafood from water where the bloom is present.

"We want to make sure we don't take that chance," Spraggins said. "Any marine life from that area should not be eaten.

"We know it can be ingested by marine life. We advise you not to eat it even if it's cooked."

However, Spraggins repeated that the advisory against taking fish and seafood is limited to the impacted areas.

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"The other areas, we don't think there's an issue," Spraggins said. "The other seafood in the gulf should be perfectly fine and we have no reason to believe otherwise."

Wright said he's been avoiding the algae since the bloom began and taking his clients fishing in cleaner, saltier water.

"We're trying to find areas with higher salt and stay away from the algae," Wright said. "There are a lot of areas that have not been affected by this at all.

"We're still able to catch fish. We're able to take our clients and have a good time."

What causes blue-green algae blooms?

According to Spraggins, blooms are caused by a number of conditions coming together at once. Among them are low or no salinity, heat, light and low dissolved oxygen.

A small patch of toxic blue-green algae can be seen floating on a tide line on the Mississippi coast.

Due to the time of year, most of the conditions for a bloom to occur are not uncommon on Mississippi's coast. What is less common is the amount of fresh water flowing into the Mississippi Sound.

Trillions of gallons of water are pouring through the Bonnet Carre Spillway near New Orleans. It has been open for a historically long period this year to relieve the levees from the pressure of the flooded Mississippi River. It flows into Lake Pontchartrain and then into the Mississippi Sound where it has been blamed for the deaths of dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life.

"This is a freshwater bloom," Spraggins said. "I would say the largest part of it is coming from the Mississippi (River)."

Which beaches are closed?

The closure only applies to water contact such as wading and swimming and pets should not be allowed to come into contact with the water. The closure does not include the sand portion of the beach. Here is the current list of affected beaches.

• Pass Christian West Beach

• Pass Christian Central Beach

• Pass Christian East Beach

• Long Beach Beach

• Gulfport Central Beach

• Lakeshore Beach

• Buccaneer State Park Beach

• Waveland Beach

• Bay St. Louis Beach

Mississippian Brian Broom is an avid outdoorsman who has worked for the Clarion Ledger for nearly 30 years. To read more of his stories, please subscribe today. Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow Clarion Ledger Outdoors on Facebook and @BrianBroom on Twitter.