We know that goes on in nature all the time, but curiously in this case the toxins aren't killing their natural enemies anymore, they're killing fish. Another theory, Buskey said, is that red tide blooms are triggered by some unknown human-related impact. Runoff from inland livestock farms or discharge from coastal shrimp farms might contribute to the blooms. This weekend, dead fish were found on the Padre Island National Seashore as far north as eight miles from the seashore's north boundary. The stench could be smelled about nine miles away.
Most fish kills consist of menhaden, mullet, hardhead catfish and eel.
But the toxin accumulates in oysters, mussels and clams, making them poisonous to humans.