Several reports of ‘red-tides’ have been made from around the Island over the last few days, the most recent concerning coastal waters in Laxey Bay.
 
Scientists at the Government Laboratory of DEFA have confirmed that the bright orange water is a result of high concentrations of a microscopic marine alga known as Noctiluca scintillans.
 
Commonly known as sea sparkle, the alga forms dense blooms regularly in the Irish Sea at this time of year. At night these organisms phosphoresce and can give quite an impressive light show especially in the surf zone.
 
Although the red-tides formed by this species look unusual and are often mistaken for pollution they are non-toxic and are a common constituent of the plankton community in late summer around the Island.