Kochi, Aug. 26 -- Continuous monsoon-driven river runoff combined with changing coastal conditions is behind the recent bioluminescent red tide event along Kerala's coast, according to ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
Field surveys conducted by CMFRI's Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division (MBEMD) revealed that heavy monsoon inflows enriched coastal waters with nutrients, creating ideal conditions for the bloom of Noctiluca scintillans, a large bioluminescent dinoflagellate frequently responsible for such phenomena.
The latest mid-August observations aboard the F.R.V. Silver Pompano, extend beyond previously recorded nearshore blooms, with the team documenting spectacular bioluminescence (locally...