Scientists on Friday predicted a moderate bloom of the toxic red tide in New England this summer, and they say the same water conditions that held it in check last year could suppress it again.
The naturally occurring red tide algae produces a toxin that shellfish absorb, making them potentially fatal for people to eat and forcing states to shut down affected shellfish beds until it clears.
On Friday, scientists at the federally funded Gulf of Maine toxicity project said there’s an abundance of microscopic cysts that act like seeds which the algae blooms leave on the ocean floor to restart the process annually.
But they say it’s a modest amount compared with recent years with major red tides, including 2005 and 2008.