Bloody waters due to the red algae bloom have stunned beachgoers at the Bondi Beach in New South Wales Australia on Tuesday. The red algae bloom that surfaced at the eastern suburb shorelines caused the sudden shut down of Bondi Beach, Clovelly Beach and Gordons Bay.

Bruce Hopkins, a Waverley head lifeguard, revealed to Herald Sun Australia that he first noticed the red algae bloom flowing on the north side of the Bondi Beach at about 6:30 a.m. "It has got quite a fishy smell to it," Hopkins said.

The red algae bloom, identified as Noctiluca scintillans, was caused by the flow of colder nutrient-rich water. Though there are no toxic effects, the red algae can still generate high levels of ammonia that can cause eye and skin irritations to some people. Therefore, swimming is prohibited.

"This phenomenon is a result of the salt content in brine shrimp Artemia salina and algae Dunaliella salina. When the salt concentration is very high, which is the case before harvest, the brine shrimp die and saline algae proliferates giving this unusual color," Patricia Estebe of the Camargue's tourist office explained to Huffington Post.

Randwick City Council confirmed that Sydney's Clovelly Beach remains closed with the red algae bloom still lingering. "The red algae at Clovelly have dissipated somewhat overnight, probably helped by heavy rain and an early high tide today," Randwick City Council said in a statement on Wednesday.

The council also affirmed that council lifeguards will monitor the situation throughout the day. Meanwhile, Coogee and Maroubra Beaches were unaffected with the red algae bloom and remains open to the public.

Take a look at the photos of some locals who posted these captured images of the red algae bloom affecting the beaches in Australia.

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