Galveston beaches reopen after cleanup

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - Crews in Galveston Bay have cleaned up thousands of dead fish off the beaches, and the beaches have reopened Wednesday morning.

Officials had closed the beaches to shellfish harvesting after a fish kill linked to the algae bloom called red tide.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said they believe the thousands of fish started washing ashore Sunday due to the bloom that suffocated the fish.

Crews cleaned up more than 30 miles of beachfront, where Parks Board executive director Kelly de Schaun said the west edge of the island had the largest concentrations of dead fish.

State officials on Friday began getting reports of fish kills.

The Texas Department of State Health Services on Sunday confirmed varying levels of red tide. The agency closed sections of Galveston Bay to shellfish harvesting the next day.

Parks and Wildlife Department officials planned a coastal flyover for an aerial view of the algae bloom, which is not harmful to people but can cause respiratory problems.

Meanwhile, Galveston has not issued any advisories against swimming.