Red tides also known as harmful algal blooms, HAB for short, are a toxic, single celled algae called photoplankton. This organism produces a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish so that they are paralyzed and can't breathe. As a result, red tide blooms often result in dead fish washing up on beaches. From biblical times to present day this killer of marine animals and health risk to humans is affecting rivers and …showed first 75 words of 889 total…

…showed last 75 words of 889 total…be known. Bibliography New York Times: "A Spate of Red Tides Is Threatening Coast Line", August 27, 1996 New York Times: "Thousands of Gulf Fish Die; Red Tide Is Probable Cause", September 19, 1996 New York Times: "In a Sealed Lab, a Warrior Against Pollution", March 25, 1997 New York Times: "Red Tide Forces Texas To Extend Shellfish Ban", September 30, 1997 "Harmful Algal Blooms in Coastal Waters: Options for Prevention, Control and Mitigation" http://www.cop.noaa.gov/pubs/das10.html February, 1997