Here are a few resources on red tides and the “first flush” phenomenon. Both the result of an over-abundance of phytoplankton, often caused by man-made fertilizers and waste.
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/redtide.html
http://deepseanews.com/2011/09/the-san-diego-red-tide-faq-from-scripps-professor-dr-peter-franks/
http://www.csgc.ucsd.edu/NEWSROOM/NEWSRELEASES/2010/PredictAlgalBlooms.html
http://oceandatacenter.ucsc.edu/home/firstflush.html
http://oceandatacenter.ucsc.edu/PhytoGallery/HABS_redtides.html
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2011/09/red-tide-off-california-coast-creates-blue-glow/
