![]() Water quality expert and University of Miami professor Larry Brand said at the time that while hurricanes don't cause red tide, "once you have a red tide started, runoff will make it worse." Warming ocean waters could also influence the frequency of red tides.Īfter the hurricane passed, Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, told CBS News that Florida's water " looks like root beer, smells like dead fish rolled into compost." He said he saw vehicles, dead animals and portapotties all scattered throughout waterways.Īs of now, Florida Fish and Wildlife says "there is no practical and acceptable way to control or kill red tide blooms.A red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plantlike organism). Nutrients from farm fields, agriculture and waste that may end up in waterways have the potential to make these kinds of blooms significantly bigger, they said. ![]() In November, some scientists said they believe that the latest bloom was being powered up by the runoff left over by Hurricane Ian. Scientists have warned that there are factors that can intensify its growth and spread, including climate change and nutrient pollution. When it begins to accumulate and is moved to the coast, that's when it starts to cause problems. brevis is an organism in the Gulf of Mexco year-round. A sign is posted for depositing dead marine life from the Red Tide bacteria into dumpsters, is seen at Maximo Park on Jin St Petersburg, Florida. That week also saw reports of respiratory irritation in Sarasota County. 21, medium to high concentrations were found in 25 samples in Southwest Florida. 16 that background concentrations had been found in one Southwest Florida sample taken 15 miles offshore of Collier County, one of the areas that were hardest-hit by the hurricane.Īfter the hurricane, the bloom only expanded. brevis concentrations, Florida Fish and Wildlife said on Sept. After a period of the state reporting no observations of K. The most recent bloom seems to have started in late September 2022, just before the state was hit by Hurricane Ian. At that time, hundreds of dead fish could be seen at a time along Tampa Bay's waters, with one local fisherman describing it as " an absolute nightmare" that "looked like a bomb had gone off." When did it start?įlorida's last devastating red tide event was recent – just two years ago in 2021. This photo shows dead fish washed up on Turtle Beach in Sarasota, Florida, amid a red tide event. The air on that beach, the resident said, felt as if there was pepper in it and was irritating their respiratory system. These effects have been seen in the most recent bloom, with one Florida resident sharing an image of a massive fish that they said looked like a goliath grouper washed up among other smaller fish on Turtle Beach in recent days. Burning eyes, noses and throats are common on beaches impacted by the tide, and experts say those who have chronic respiratory issues, such as asthma or emphysema, can have worse reactions. Some people can experience irritation within minutes of being exposed to the toxin as the wind and waves carry it into the air. Contaminated consumption can lead to nausea, vomiting, cardiovascular issues, neurological issues, and rashes, among other things.Įven if contaminated shellfish aren't consumed, just being near a high concentration of the algal bloom can impact human health. Brevetoxins tend to accumulate in shellfish, such as scallops and oysters, and if contaminated ones are consumed, it can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, according to the CDC. Humans should also be concerned for their own health. "Illness and death in Florida dogs have been linked to exposure to harmful algal blooms," the agency warns. ![]() At high concentrations of > 1,000,000 cells/L, there will also be visible water discoloration. ![]() At that level, considered to be "medium," it's likely that people will experience respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting will be paused and fish kills will be detected. In Southwest Florida, it was detected in 114 samples, including 56 that had medium to high concentrations of >100,000 cells/liter. On Friday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a status update for red tide conditions, saying that the organism was found in 115 samples along the state's west coast. Red tide is a toxic algal bloom that originates dozens of miles offshore when there are high amounts of the algae known as Karenia brevis. Red tide, a problem that has sporadically plagued Florida's Gulf Coast water for years, is back. Red tide ravages sea life and hurts tourism industry along nearly 100 miles of Florida's Gulf Coast 02:12įlorida beaches are filling up with dead fish and coastal air is burning people's eyes, noses and throats – and it's all because of a tiny organism. ![]()
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