Cape Town – The Department of Forestry, Fisheries is warning the public to refrain from eating washed-out marine animals because they are unsuitable for consumption.
In a statement on Wednesday, 30 December 2025, the department said large numbers of dead white mussel, whelks, and other shellfish were being washed out at St Helena Bay and Elandsbaai on the West Coast over the past 48 hours.
“The dead shellfish indicate that they have died after being paralysed, unable to burrow, and then washed up,” the department said.
“This is most likely due to the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) or ‘Red Tide’”.
Red tides are algal blooms, that is, accumulations of large amounts of phytoplankton (single-cell algae) that are common during summer and autumn along the West Coast.
“This particular ’Red Tide’ is colourless and therefore not visible to the human eye, but paralytic shellfish poisoning neurotoxins are extremely toxic to humans,” explained the department.
“All shellfish, irrespective of being washed out or collected from shore or subtidal, should not be eaten.“
The department cautioned the public to refrain from eating washed-out marine animals as they carry significant health risks, rendering them unsuitable for consumption.
The department said it will continue to monitor the situation with respect to the extent of the “Red Tide” and resultant mass mortalities on the West Coast.
