THE HARBOR COLUMN:Rinse off eyes, ears when swimming in waters with red tide

Ahoy.

Boating will be good this weekend along our coast but do watch for gale-force winds on the seaward side of Catalina Island.

I expect coastal fog in the mornings that will burn off to warm afternoons. I noticed, though, that the red tide is attacking our coastal waters again as if the tide never left from last season.

What is in the waters making the dino- flagellates bloom in such a large geographical area and in cold water temperatures? Red tides — or what scientists refer to as algal blooms — can feed off urban run-off pollution, especially nitrates and phosphates, but I thought that the urban run-off pollution was decreasing from our upland neighbors.

Beside, no one really knows what makes a bloom actually bloom, and Southern California is not alone in increasing red tides as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico have been hit worse with bigger toxic blooms.

I do have a theory that red tides are contributing to the carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere at a much higher rate than decades ago. The blooms release carbon dioxide and lower the oxygen levels in the sea water.

I would not recommend eating any creatures caught in the red tide zones, so I will put back the abalone. The algal blooms release neurotoxins that you will find in shellfish and some fish.

Usually you will not be harmed by swimming in red tides but you should rinse off thoroughly, including your eyes and ears. I have a rule that if the water smells and looks bad then I do not go in the water.

If you must go in then avoid the higher toxic levels that occur in coves and bays.

Tip of the week is to go night boating to watch the colorful phosphorescence trail your boat makes in your wake.

Join us in Lake Arrowhead this Saturday when my radio show will broadcast live from the boat show at Lake Arrowhead Village.

Our broadcast tent will be setup next to Woody’s Boathouse Restaurant that overlooks the marina and lake. This is a good show to preview water skiing and wake-boarding boats, plus, there will be demo boats to sample.

Remember, tune in to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” from noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays on KLAA-AM (830).