It’s been almost three months since the red tide phenomenon became visible in the waters of our Pacific coast. According to scientists at the Costa Rican Institute of Fishing and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA in Spanish), the ominous-looking red tide this season has not presented high levels of toxicity.

Online news daily Costa Rica Hoy has been following the red tide occurrence this summer with a series of articles published over the last few weeks. In late March, an multiagency committee formed by members of INCOPESCA, La Caja, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Affairs, the University of Costa Rica, and the National University set out to study the effects of red tide in the Gulf of Nicoya, the region which has been affected the most.

The committee spokesperson, Ana Salas, explained that the analysis of the red tide samples did not indicate high toxic levels and therefore no alerts have been issued to date. The initial samples taken in February from the Gulf of Nicoya indicated some toxicity, but only enough to determine that the water coloration reported by fishermen was indeed red tide.

It’s OK to Eat Fish

Further inquiry into the health of aquatic species in the Pacific, particularly mollusks, revealed that Ticos who switched to a seafood diet during Lent have nothing to fear. The tests performed at the Phytoplankton Laboratory of the National University in Puntarenas came up negative for toxins that could be harmful to other species –including humans. If the results ever come up positive, the committee has a system in place to alert all stakeholders, from fishermen to retailers and from swimmers to surfers.

On April 1st, Costa Rica Hoy reported that the red tide had moved south to the Central Pacific. An oceanographer explained that climate conditions and the high winds migrated the malodorous red tide south to Caldera.

Update from the Red Tide Committee

Costa Rica Hoy published a red tide update yesterday. According to Luis Dobles, President of INCOPESCA, the lab results to date are status quo: “…all laboratory analyses have come up negative [on toxicity] as far as the phenomenon is concerned. It is not harming fish or mollusks, and certainly will not harm humans.”

Still, Mr. Dobles advised people to stay away from red tide waters, as they may come away with irritating red blotches.

To learn more about the red tide phenomenon in Costa Rica, please read Aaron Atkey’s article written for The Costa Rica Star:  Adverse Effects Of Red Tide On Coastal Communities in Costa Rica.

Red tide is closely related to phytoplankton, of which Costa Rica is blessed with in abundance.  To learn more about the riches of phytoplankton, please read our previous article on The Costa Rica Dome.