Red tide may be declining off S. Florida

Beaches remained open on Monday

Beaches remained open Monday in South Florida, as last week’s red tide outbreak showed signs of fading.

Only seven dead fish were found on Broward beaches over the weekend, after nearly 1,300 had been found last week, said Nicole Sharp, natural resources administrator for Broward County.

“We’re seeing a large decrease in fish carcasses coming ashore,” she said.

This would appear to indicate a decline in the concentration of the toxic algae, which made a rare South Florida appearance over the past 10 days, leading to a flurry of beach closures and concerns about tourism.

No serious medical problems have been reported, said Tim O’Connor, spokesman for the Florida Health Department’s Palm Beach County office.

The health department sent notices to about 3,000 doctors and health-care providers, asking for re-

ports of any cases of illness from red tide. The algae releases toxins into the air that can cause coughing, sneezing and an itchy throat, with more severe symptoms possible in those with existing respiratory problems.

The few responses received indicate there were only minor issues, which doctors were able to treat, he said.

“The good news is I think people are recognizing what it is and taking precautions,” he said. “We had a few people, but no serious symptoms.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which conducts red tide testing, set up a website that was to be updated daily at 5 p.m. It has not been updated since Friday, and no updates were posted as of 5 p.m. Monday.

A “moderate” red tide level is expected to persist at least through Tuesday for the South Florida coast, from northern Miami-Dade County through St. Lucie County. At a moderate level, red tide could be harmful to people with respiratory problems but should cause only mild symptoms at most to everyone else.

Red tide, normally a Gulf issue, arises from the growth of a particular species of from algae far off shore. But while its occurrence is a natural phenomenon, it can be worsened by things people do that allow nutrients, particularly nitrogen, to wash into the ocean from sources such as farms, lawns and septic tanks.