Tag Archives: red tide

Red Tide warning issued to Garden Route

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Warning: The Red Tide, a natural phenomenon which lasts for weeks or months, is bad news for holidaymakers to the Garden Route and for those tourist towns that rely on them. It’s also bad news for shellfish and some line fish. BUT all is not bad because there is so much else to do… The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has confirmed the outbreak of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB), more well known as the Red Tide (please note that the colour can change). It’s infected the coastline and has entered … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

The Dark Side of Sea Lettuce

Mike Hampton Posted on by

It’s not toilet paper – yesterday’s government report was correct in that dried sea lettuce is what we’re witnessing on the shores of the Knysna Estuary. What was improper and unscientific in the report released by the Knysna Pollution Action Committee (SANParks, Knysna Municipality, Eden District Municipality and the Knysna Basin Project) was the exclusion of pollution as a possible cause. Yes, naturally induced “hydrogen and phosphate levels in the water which led to last year’s red tide” is a possibility but so can it be from the nitrogen released … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Hike: Coney Glen Rock Pool & Cave

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Hike: Coney Glen Parking Lot to Rock Pool Time Required: 2hrs Difficulty Level: Medium Beach hikes such as this are proof to my claim that Knysna is one of the prettiest towns in the world. Coney Glen is a majestic cacophony of jagged rocks and colours. Located on the East Head, it’s easily accessible via tarred road (N2/Main Road -> George Rex Drive). I’ve previously shared photos of its two beaches and the view from Lookout Point above it but this time we headed up the coast towards the rock … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

What is a Red Tide? What is the danger?

Mike Hampton Posted on by

On Friday, the Noetzie Conservancy in Knysna reported a red tide which is an algal bloom (large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms). Yesterday, on our Love Knysna Facebook, Mark Taylor, a surfer, stated that the “red tide was blooming at Buffalo Bay” as far back as New Year’s day. “Water has been strangely warm considering all the easterly winds… we surfed in a weird, brown type of sea… tasted like iron or money.” You may know not to eat shellfish during and after a red tide but maybe you don’t know … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!