JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - All 21 beaches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are open after being closed this summer for a harmful algae bloom.

  

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality late Friday lifted water contact warnings that were issued Aug. 6. Warnings also were lifted for Pass Christian Harbor, Long Beach Harbor and Bay St. Louis Harbor.

  

All summer long, harmful blue-green algae blooms have plagued the coast. MDEQ says recent results indicated that while the bloom was present and/or in bloom, many of the cells were dying. MDEQ moved to the toxicity testing phase of the protocol this week. Sampling results, officials say, were all below the EPA guidelines set to protect public health.