Red invasion

The week's news at a glance.

Boston

New England is being hit by the worst red tide in decades, forcing authorities to close shellfish beds from Maine to Cape Cod. The toxic algae that cause red tides can contaminate clams, mussels, and oysters. Anyone who eats tainted shellfish can suffer numbness, breathing problems, and even death. Massachusetts last week declared two-thirds of its shellfish beds off-limits. If the red tide continues to spread, or simply lingers, New England’s $24 million annual catch will be drastically reduced, which could drive up prices for shellfish nationwide. “That’s going to hurt,” said Rob McClellan, a Massachusetts seafood merchant.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us