'Red rockpools' warning issued for Scotland with dog walkers told to stay away

Rockpools have turned bright red in the north of Scotland.

A warning has been issued after a number of rockpools in the north of Scotland turned bright red.

Dog walkers and the wider public have been urged to stay away from the red pools, which have been discovered on the Moray Firth coast. Environment agency Sepa said “several” rockpools had turned red due to either a phytoplankton or algal bloom.

The naturally-occurring phenomenon has been reported near the old pool at Portsoy, at the New Aberdour caves and to the west of Sandhaven.

A red rockpool near the New Aberdour Caves on the Moray First Coast. PIC: SEPA.

The condition is accompanied by a "nasty odour of decay” due to the water turning stagnant given the combination of the warm weather, lack of rainfall and low tides leaving rockpools higher up the beach not being flushed out.

A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “Members of the public should avoid these rockpools and ensure that dogs do not drink this water or swim in them.”