Red Tide Spreads Up Florida’s Coast After Hurricane Michael

Florida is one of the prime summer vacation destinations for the entire Untied States. People come from across the country to enjoy Florida’s miles of fine-sand beaches.

This year, tourists are seeing something less appealing than white sand and turquoise waves.

This summer the beaches have often been covered with dead fish.

For the past 10 months, Florida has been beset by red tide—a type of toxic algae that occasionally occurs in warm, nutrient-rich water.

This latest outbreak has been one of the worst ever.

Bob Wasno, a marine biologist with the Florida Gulf Coast University, docks his boat on a beach in Bonita Springs, Fla., on Aug. 14, 2018, where hundreds of dead fish washed up killed by red tide. (Gianrigo Marletta/AFP/Getty Images)

“Back in 1994 we had an outbreak and it killed 196 manatee,” said Bob Wasno, a marine biologist with Florida Gulf Coast University to CNN.

“Everybody was just completely outraged. They yelled and jumped up and down and said ‘This is not going to happen again.’ Here we are 24 years later and this is worse than ever,” he said.

Fish by the thousands, both small and large, have been washing up on beaches. Manatees, dolphins, even a whale shark have all succumbed to the toxic algae and ended up on the state’s beaches.

Some of those beaches have been closed to swimmers—a disaster for the tourist industry that plays an important role in the state’s economy.

Red tide’s neurotoxins kill fish but they can also harm humans. The toxin can irritate the skin and the linings of the lungs. People with asthma in particular should steer clear.

“It’s like being hit with a tear gas,” was how University of Miami marine biology and ecology professor Larry Brand told CNN.

Caution tape closes off an entrance to the beach in Lake Worth, Fla., under a no-swimming flag on Oct. 4, 2018. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Hurricane Michael Didn’t Help

Some people had hoped that Hurricane Michael might have broken up the algae blooms. Those people were disappointed.

“Testing right now indicates that it looks the same now as before Michael,” NOAA oceanographer Richard Stumpf told CNN. “Michael didn’t change the bloom. Didn’t make it worse. Didn’t make it better.”

Kelly Richmond from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spoke with CNN about the red tide blooms. She said the forecast is for more red tide along both of Florida’s coasts.

State of Emergency

The latest outbreak is so bad that Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of Emergency on Aug. 13. The state of emergency currently covers Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Brevard, and Indian River counties, CNN reported.

“I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts,” said Scott in a statement, ABC News reported.

Scott’s executive order provides funding for more scientists to help with clean up and animal rescue.

Agriculture and Expansion Feed the Tides

Scientists believe that agricultural and residential run-off might be exacerbating the algae blooms. As Florida’s population has swelled, more nutrient-rich runoff from septic tanks and lawn fertilizers ends up in the oceans, CNN reports.

Further, the Army Corps of Engineers has completely re-routed Florida’s natural water flow to create a farming district north of the Everglades. Much of the reclaimed land is used for farming sugar cane—and much of the nutrient-rich fertilizer runoff ends up in the ocean.

Florida has weakened water-quality regulations through the past eight years and cut about $400 million in funding for the water management districts largely responsible for ensuring that those regulations are enforced.

“The real question is exactly what role (human) activity is playing on red tides,” Dr. Mike Parsons, a red tide expert at Florida Gulf Coast University, told CNN.

“Between water discharges, our use of agricultural nutrients, the development of Florida, and warming seas—are we poking the bear?” he asked.

From NTD.tv