Officials Prep for Red Tide Outbreak

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/tech/2006/may/09/050902301.html

BOSTON (AP) - Officials are preparing for the possibility of a new outbreak of red tide even as the state continues to deal with the effects of last year's devastating bloom that closed shellfish beds and caused $50 million in damage to tourism and fishing industries.

At a briefing for lawmakers and their aides at the Statehouse, officials from the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Department of Fish and Game said they are monitoring coastal waters and taking steps to make sure that when a bloom hits, they can reopen shellfish beds as quickly as possible.

"We are prepared to deal with this red tide. We are hoping for the best. We are prepared to deal with the worst," said David Peters, commissioner of the state Department of Fish and Game.

Last year's toxic algae bloom was the worst in state history. Shellfish beds from Maine to Buzzards Bay on Cape Cod were closed at the height of the outbreak, putting about 2,000 clammers, oyster farmers and mussel harvesters temporarily out of work.

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[phantom power]

1. Every day, I thank the good lord...

I thank the good lord that BushCo is protecting our economy from the evils of CO2 emissions caps.