Red tide threatens Florida beaches and businesses
Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Wednesday for seven counties in southwest Florida over an unusually severe red tide outbreak.
The declaration will provide money and resources to address a problem that has lingered since October in Charlotte, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties.
Red tide is a burst of algae growth in the ocean that can kill marine wildlife and negatively affect humans. Beaches are shut down, businesses have temporarily closed, and Floridians wonder when it will all end.
Here’s a look at what red tide is and how it affects Florida:
Question: What is red tide? Answer: Red tide, which scientists call a harmful algae bloom, is caused by a naturally occurring alga (a plant-like microogranism) called Karenia brevis or K. brevis. When K. brevis appears in large quantities – typically in the Gulf of Mexico – it can turn ocean water red, brown or green.
K. brevis contains harmful toxins that can affect the nervous systems of fish, birds and mammals.
Q: Why is red tide happening?
A: The red tide has lingered along Florida’s southwest coast throughout the spring and summer, and bloom conditions began in November.
Red tide is caused by a combination of conditions, including wind, currents and the presence of nutrients that allow the algae to grow. Though red tide appears almost every year, the severity varies by year.
“For various reasons, the conditions all come together that make it move from offshore to inshore,” said Quay Dortch, a program manager for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who studies harmful algal blooms. “Some years, it’s sort of a minor problem, and some years – like this year – it’s a major problem.”
Q: How does red tide affect wildlife?
A: Red tide can have debilitating effects on marine life. If the microorganisms are concentrated at more than a 10,000-cell-per-liter rate, fish of all kinds can start dying.
At least 400 stranded and dead sea turtles have been found since bloom conditions began in November, as well as a manatee and a 26-foot whale shark.
Q: What about humans?
A: Most people can safely swim in red tide, but it can cause skin irritation and burning eyes. Inhaling the red tide toxins can lead to coughing, sneezing and teary eyes, though those symptoms are typically temporary. People with chronic respiratory issues such as asthma are advised to avoid red tide.
Though the medical effects on humans generally aren’t serious, the red tide is affecting the economy in Florida: Some small businesses have temporarily closed. One restaurant developed a “Fish Kill” cocktail – a bluegreen drink featuring floating Swedish Fish – the proceeds from which go to a clean water activist group.
Q: How long will the red tide last? A: It’s hard to predict how long the red tide will remain; it could persist through 2019. Red tides can last days, weeks or months and can change depending on wind conditions and water currents. “We’re beginning the season when the blooms occur, so it’s likely that it’s gonna stick around for a while,” Dortch said.
Q: Is red tide tied to climate change?
A: Red tides are not a new phenomena – the first reported incident was in Florida in 1844. Research hasn’t found a definitive link between the severity of red tides and climate change.