The area's worst outbreak of Red Tide in years shows no signs of abating as it moves south around the tip of Cape Cod.
NHPR's Garrett Young has this story...both the effects on land and in the water.
The outbreak of the toxic algae has persisted for several weeks and has kept more and more of the state?s shellfishermen moored to the docks.
Many of the region?s most productive shellfishing areas are closed. Massachusetts officials have shut down nearly half of the state?s beds.
In Wellfleet Massachusetts is famous for its local oysters. But commercial and recreational fishermen have no idea when they can get back into the flats.
Town shellfishing constable Andrew Koch says he feels like he?s working two jobs.
?Psychiatrist?? (17 seconds)
Anyone headed to the beach this weekend doesn?t have anything to worry about.
Dr. Don Anderson is a Red Tide expert at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
?You couldn?t swallow enough ? I would swim in it myself now.? (15 seconds)
The reason shellfish are dangerous to eat is because they strain food from the water. That causes the toxins created by the red tide to concentrate in the tissues.
The algae have little effect on the mollusk?s health, but if humans eat too many, they can become sick or even die.
Anderson says any shellfish available in restaurants or stores is carefully screened and safe for consumption.
Jack Newick, who owns Newick?s Seafood in Dover says that this is tough for those on the cape, but he?s gotten used to it over the years.
?We?re veterans of it? (16 seconds)
The downside for seafood eaters is that the price of clams is rising.
Newick said he paid over 100 dollars for a bucket today. This time last year the cost was about 65 dollars.
It?s impossible to predict when the bloom will dissipate; it ultimately depends on the ocean?s currents.
Even after the tide goes out, beds will remain closed for several weeks before the shellfish are clean enough to eat.
For NHPR News, this is Garrett Young
