Two of NI’s most popular beaches red-flagged over potentially toxic algae

🚩It means the water is unsafe for bathing

Portstewart Strand
Author: Chloe StjohnPublished 6th Jul 2023

Two of Northern Ireland’s most popular beaches have been temporarily red-flagged by the RNLI, after potentially toxic blue green algae was detected.

An RNLI red flag means the water is unsafe for bathing and you should not enter it.

In a warning notice, the National Trust said, “DAERA sampling today has confirmed potentially toxic blue green algae at Castlerock with suspected blue green algae noted at Portstewart.”

Portstewart Strand

Blue-green algae has been detected at a number of sites across Northern Ireland during the recent good weather.

It can pose a health risk to people, people, pets, and wild animals who come into contact or ingest it, and has been attributed to the death of dogs, birds, fish and livestock in parts of the UK.

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