Dead fish wash up at MacArthur Park
Beaches remain closed; state agencies investigate red tide.
Palm Beach County officials steeled themselves Wednesday as reports of dead fish from Boca Raton to Jupiter crackled over radios and through phone lines, hoping if the deaths were red tide-related, they would end at that rung of the food chain.
It was the first time since the toxic Karenia brevis algae was confirmed Monday in county waters that fish began washing ashore. By the end of the day, a team of state biologists was on the way to
MacArthur Beach State Park after scores of dead fish were found rolling in the frothy whitewater and trapped in the wrack line.
A news release announcing the fish kill investigation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was quick to point out the DEP has already doled out $10 million to counties facing red tide.
At Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation Department on Wednesday, the discussion was pragmatic — how to handle the bodies, what tools to use, what kind of protective gear is needed.
While the Gulf Coast is versed in red tide protocol, it’s not standard procedure for southeast Florida.
“I don’t think we’re looking at the same level yet like what you saw on the west coast,” said Eric
Call, director for Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation Department. “I hope we don’t see that. I don’t think so.”
Most county be a ches remain closed, with the exception of Phil Foster Park, Peanut Island and Ocean Ridge Hammock. The county made 50 vinyl signs warning of red tide that it planned to have posted at beaches by the end of Wednesday. Medical masks were distributed to beach staff.
Municipalities make their own decisions about beach closures.
“This is all a moving target,” county Aquatics Director Laurie Schobelock said.
A federal harmful algae bloom forecast is predicting “moderate” red tide condi- tions through at least Friday. That means people with no health concerns could feel mild effects from the toxin — coughing, scratchy throat and watery eyes.
With big waves from Hurricane Leslie hitting the coast and east breezes from a high pressure system, the Kare- nia brevis toxin is being dispersed into the air and blown ashore.
“It got me good this morn- ing,” said Delray Beach resident Harvey Latidus, who was walking his dog near Atlantic Avenue when his eyes started watering and he felt the red tide itch in his throat. “It’s bad.”
Fish collected Wednesday will be tested for Karenia brevis by FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Because it is turtle-nesting season, fish cleanup efforts must be approved by the DEP.
Eleven water samples taken from the Palm Beach Inlet to the Jupiter Inlet tested positive Monday for low to moderate concentra- tions of red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
J. William Lo u da, a research professor for Florida Atlantic Universi- ty’s Department of Chem- istry and Biochemistry, said Karenia brevis cell levels of 1 million per liter — the high-end of the moderate range — would “most likely be enough” to kill fish.
“We’re aware that we have dead fish washing up on the beaches countywide,” said Deborah Drum, Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management director. “We just became aware of it today, but it is not uncommon when you have red tide.”
The carnage on the west coast this past summer included tons of dead fish, manatees, dolphins, turtles and birds. This year, 676 manatees have died statew ide, about 50 p ercent higher than the five-year average.
Red tide produces a toxin that affects the nervous system. It can work its way up the food chain from tiny snails on sea grasses eaten by manatees, or in fish eaten by turtles, birds or bigger fish.
In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared dolphin deaths off the southwest coast of Florida an “unusual mortality event,” which are deaths that are unexpected, significant, and demand “immediate response.”
As of Sept. 27, 65 dolphins had died or been stranded in the event.
“Once you start seeing a progression up the food chain, the risks to the next level up become greater,” said Dale Gawlik, director of Environmental Sciences at Florida Atlantic University. “You become more concerned that the things that eat fish need to start being watched.”
It’s believed the red tide was exacerbated in the Gulf of Mexico by heavy rains from Hurricane Irma and the record-setting May rainfall that washed nutrient-loaded water into near-shore Gulf waters.
Its rare journey to the east coast was likely made on the Florida Current around the Keys and into the Gulf Stream.
Call said he’s experienced three red tides in his 35 years in Palm Beach County, with this year the worst.
“On the west coast, they are used to this,” Call said. “This is not our norm.”
To report a fish kill, call the FWC hot line at 800636-0511.