TONS OF SPINY LOBSTERS WALK OUT OF SEA ONTO SOUTH AFRICAN BEACH

About 500,000 West Coast spiny rock lobsters have stranded themselves on a South African beach, prompting authorities to set up roadblocks Friday to stop people from helping themselves to a free lunch.  The small lobsters, also known as crayfish, were forced to flee a "red tide," which occurs when weather conditions cause rapid growth of a species of algae that lowers oxygen levels and stains the sea red.  the stranding of 100 tons crayfish occurred at Elandsbaai, 160 miles north of Cape Town, officials said Friday.

... Although the crayfish are safe to eat, mussels and other shellfish infected with the algae can be lethal to humans. [Weekend News Today By Andra brack Source: TampaBay Online (AP) FRI.  April 16, 1999]