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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Update (February 1, 2002)

This is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department red tide update for Friday, February 1, 2002. Red tide continues to persist in parts of Corpus Christi Bay and the upper Laguna Madre. No significant fish kills have occurred, and the red tide is at such a low concentration in most areas that it is not noticeable. Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays remain closed to shellfish harvest until the Texas Department of Health determines that it is safe. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Department of Health will continue to monitor for red tide along the coast and in the bays. Three common signs of a red tide bloom are discolored water, dead fish, and breathing difficulty. To report sightings of red tide during normal business hours, call your local TPW office or the Kills and Spills Team at (512) 912-7055. To report red tide over the weekend, page Dave Buzan at (800) 299-4099, personal identification number 2366. Although some travelers may be concerned with how the red tide may affect their vacation plans, there are miles of clean beaches to enjoy on the Texas coast. When making travel plans, heed the advice of the Texas Department of Health: get the current facts and draw your own conclusions. Many people experience respiratory, nose, throat, and eye irritation when they are near areas affected by red tide. For more information about red tide and the latest updates, visit the TPW Web site (www.tpwd.state.tx.us) and look for the red tide link, or call the TPW hotline at (800) 792-1112, select fishing, then red tide.