Dog owners have been warned to keep their pets away from bright red rockpools along the Moray Firth coast.
Sepa has warned the naturally-occurring phenomenon is caused by either a phytoplankton or algal bloom - both toxic to dogs and other animals.
They have received reports of the phenomenon near the old pool at Portsoy, at the New Aberdour caves and to the west of Sandhaven.
Members of the public are being urged to avoid the areas and ensure their dogs do not drink the water or swim in it.
Aberdeenshire Council said: "SEPA has made us aware of several bright red rockpools along the Moray Firth coast caused by either a phytoplankton or algal bloom.
"They’ve received reports of this naturally-occurring phenomenon near the old pool at Portsoy, at the New Aberdour caves and to the west of Sandhaven.
"The condition is accompanied by a nasty odour of decay because the water in the pools is usually stagnant and is a combination of the warm weather, lack of rainfall and low tides – with rockpools higher up the beach not being flushed out.
"Members of the public should avoid these rockpools and ensure that dogs do not drink this water or swim in them."
Phytoplankton blooms are some of the most harmful that make people and animals sick. It can be toxic in large amounts and starves the area of water of oxygen.
Harmful algal blooms produce extremely dangerous toxins and occur when algae crow out of control. The effect can be fatal on people and animals.
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