Monday June 13, 2005 3:31 PM
SAN ONOFRE (AP) - An outbreak of toxic red tide algae that has shut down most fishing and surfing from Doheny to Trails and forced state officials to close federal waters, extending the affected area by thousands of square miles. On Friday, the state parks ordered everyone to stop using federal fishing and surfing areas and asked federal officials to extend that ban to out-of staters . The move extends the ban for state fishing and surfing from three miles from shore to 100 miles from shore. Toxins produced by the algae contaminate fish and the water, making it unsafe for people and animals to be in. It is the worst red tide along the California coast since 1872. California has declared a state of emergency, seeking federal disaster relief for the fishing and surfing industrys. Gov. Schwarzenegger said the red tide is costing the state about $3 million per week. The algae that causes red tide has yearly growth surges. This year, strong easterly and northeasterly wind has blown in a particularly heavy algae population that has flourished in warmer coastal water.
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