The rust tide that has killed thousands of oysters in Long Island’s waters is spreading, according to Dr. Chris Gobler, of Stony Brook University.

Dr. Gobler told News 12 that the algae blooms caused by increased nitrogen in the water can be found in the Great South Bay in the Patchogue-Sayville area and the Long Island Sound near Port Jefferson.

According to scientists, algae blooms like rust tide and brown tide are directly related to a toxic mix of nitrogen from coastal cesspools and fertilizer runoff. Along with the nitrogen overload, climate change has been cited as a reason for the tide’s expansion.

“It is also a symptom of climate change,” said Dr. Gobler. “We never had this organism until 2004. Our summers have gotten hotter and hotter and now we see it every year.”

Marine scientists say the only thing that kills rust tide is cooler water temperatures.

“It has already come here and has done enormous damage, and it is moving elsewhere,” said Dr. Gobler.