Port in northwest Mexico closed because of red tide

MEXICO CITY: The port in San Felipe, a town in the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California, has been closed to fishing due to the deaths of numerous animals from red tide, the Profepa environmental protection agency said.

More than 550 birds and four sea lions have died in recent days in the waters around the port from red tide, lab tests conducted by Baja California health officials found.

The red tide outbreak may have been caused by pollution, high temperatures, a drop in salinity and low tide action, the Profepa said in a statement.

Fishing, the sale of fish products and consumption of seafood from the area around the port of San Felipe have been temporarily prohibited, Baja California health officials said.

Three dolphins died in the waters around the town and tests were conducted on tissue samples taken from birds and mollusks, the Profepa said.

The tissue and organ samples tested positive for the neurotoxin produced by the algae that cause red tide, officials said. – Bernama