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Red tide update, August 28, 2000
Texas Parks and Wildlife

UPDATE -- August 28, 2000

Tony Reisinger, the Marine Extension Agent for Cameron County reports hearing information from Mexico via a local shrimp broker that discolored water had been detected off Playa Bagdad, an area just south of the mouth of the Rio Grande and east of Matamoros.

TDH has sampled the areas around the jetties and other areas in Galveston Bay, and the red tide (G. breve) counts are approaching a level that may require the Texas Department of Health to take action fairly soon in regard to shellfish harvesting in the bay.

TPWD Coastal Fisheries staff received a report this weekend of large numbers of dead (red) snapper, amberjack, ling, African pompano at the surface in rusty red colored water 25/30 miles SSE of the Sabine Pass jetties. (Note: Based on this comment the fishermen were in federal waters off Louisiana.). They also received a report from divers fishing around rig structures in the Gulf of dead snapper up to 30 lbs literally covering the bottom. The divers also reported sea bass with sores. (Note: Once again it appears this incident took place in federal waters.). Another group of anglers fishing the Sabine jetties were catching bull red drum with fins/tails "eaten up" (damaged). Coastal Fisheries staff believe those injuries are more severe than those normally observed during spawning season.

For more information call Dave Buzan of the Kills and Spills team at 512/912-7013.