St helena bay: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed large numbers of dead white mussel, whelks, and other shellfish being washed out at St Helena Bay and Elandsbaai on the West Coast. Members of the public have been cautioned to refrain from eating the washed-out marine animals, as they carry significant health risks, rendering them unsuitable for consumption. According to South African Government News Agency, the dead shellfish, which washed up on Monday and Tuesday, indicates that they died after being paralysed, unable to burrow and then washed up. This phenomenon is attributed to the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) or red tide. Red tides are algal blooms, which are accumulations of large amounts of phytoplankton that are common during summer and autumn along the West Coast. The department explained that this particular red tide is colourless and therefore not visible to the human eye, but paralytic shellfish poisoning neurotoxins are extremely toxic to h umans. They have strongly advised that all shellfish, irrespective of being washed out or collected from the shore or subtidal, should not be consumed. The DFFE will continue to monitor the situation concerning the extent of the red tide and resultant mass mortalities on the West Coast.