Do not light beach fires on sandstone. The heat can cause pockets of air trapped in the stone to expand and finally to explode.
Light your beach fire away from driftwood and extinguish it completely when you are done. Many forest fires have been started by the wind carrying flames from day old smoldering logs to adjacent grass and woodlands.
Strange metal canisters found on the beach should not be touched. They may be flammable and potentially explosive naval flares. Phone the local Coast Guard or military authorities who will collect them.
Be aware of the tide. Check a tide table before visiting the beach and plan a retreat path to use if the tide begins to come up faster than you expected. Every year, a few unwary people are caught by the tide and drown.
Red tide occurs when there is an algal bloom or population explosion of a certain type of microscopic dinoflaggelate that lives in the water column. These microbes produce a toxin which is poisonous to humans. The water may not always appear red; therefore, watch for warning signs and consult local fisheries authorities before harvesting. When you are eating shellfish you have harvested yourself, eat slowly. If your mouth tingles or begins to feel numb, stop eating immediately.
When harvesting clams, oysters, mussels and other shellfish for personal consumption, collect conservatively and within the government set limits. Remember that nothing in this world is free. When we deplete stocks, we threaten the species' survival.
Shuck oysters on the beach and return the shells to their original position. Otherwise the other animals living on the adult oyster shells will needlessly die. The shells are naturally recycled in the marine ecosystem. |
