Baltic and Atlantic coasts face beach closures due to algae and venomous organisms

Authorities in Germany and Poland have issued warnings and implemented beach closures due to the presence of toxin-forming cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, along the Baltic Sea coast. In Germany, the Rostock Health Office has advised swimmers to avoid specific beach sections near Warnemünde, particularly between segments 30 and 36, due to visible algae mats. While no official ban is in place for all areas, officials warn that contact can cause skin irritation, swelling, and gastrointestinal issues if swallowed. Children and pets are considered especially vulnerable.

In Poland, authorities have already imposed formal bathing bans at several beaches, including locations on the Hel Peninsula and in the Bay of Gdańsk. The proliferation of these bacteria is attributed to high water temperatures, intense sunlight, and nutrient-rich waters.

Separately, along the Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, the presence of the Portuguese Man o' War has led to intermittent beach closures. This highly venomous organism, which can have tentacles reaching up to 50 meters, poses a significant risk of painful stings to swimmers and beachgoers, even when the animals appear dead on the shore.