Will red tide affect spring break destinations? Traveling to Florida this year? Here's what you need to know. In addition, the NOAA Harmful Algae Outbreak Respiratory Forecast is predicting some coastal areas on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida near Tampa to have low to moderate amounts of red tide. If you're planning a trip to Florida this year, there could be more than just sand on the beaches and fish in the water.Ī vast forest of sargassum, a free-floating type of seaweed, is in the Atlantic Ocean and heading toward South Florida this summer. Stay tuned to state and local resources to help you find areas that haven’t been affected.View Gallery: Sargassum in Palm Beach County The current red tide doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t hit the beach this season. Symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion and can last for a few hours to several days. People who consume the brevetoxins can experience Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory distress, tingling or numbness in the mouth and alternating hot flashes and chills. The toxins are not detectable by taste or odor and cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or other preparation methods. Note that food poisoning can occur from eating shellfish that contain these toxins. Always get your seafood from trusted sources and don’t eat shellfish from a red tide area without consulting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to make sure the harvest is safe. Seafood restaurants and hotels are monitoring what is safe to eat. If lung irritation occurs, it’s best to move to an air-conditioned space.įlorida health officials also recommend keeping pets away from red tide areas, as they can also become sick.Īdobe Stay Away From Contaminated Shellfish You may want to wear a particle filter mask and keep an eye on the marine forecast. When toxins are airborne, they can create temporary problems like coughing, sneezing and teary eyes. And be especially careful if you’re prone to respiratory issues in the first place. Just be sure to consume a lot of water to stay hydrated. Over-the-counter allergy antihistamines can help with minor breathing problems, skin irritations or stomach issues. If you do end up with it on your skin, rinse it off with warm water and soap. Of course, swimming near dead fish is not advised. Red tide can also cause rashes and irritation to eyes, noses and throats. If you have sensitive skin, it will likely get irritated. Stay away from areas that are known to have red tide and avoid discolored water pay attention to warnings. Some also believe that human activity has played a role in making these blooms more frequent, as this has increased the number of nutrients that enter coastal waters. Grazing by zooplankton and small fish, along with competition with other species, can help reduce it. Sunlight, salinity levels, water temperature, and the availability of nutrients for growth also affect red tide growth. How long it lasts depends on factors such as wind and water currents, with onshore winds bringing it near the shore and offshore winds carrying it out to the sea. Blooms can last for days, weeks or months. The duration of a red tide really depends. High concentrations can discolor the water, causing it to turn red, light or dark green, or brown. Additionally, the toxins can collect in filter feeders (oysters and clams), leading to shellfish poisoning for people who consume them.Īccording to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, levels from Tampa Bay south to Marco Island range from 10,000 cells per liter to more than 1 million cells per liter right now. These toxins have been known to cause breathing problems in humans, such as coughing, wheezing and sore throats. brevis cells and release them into the air. When levels reach 10,000 cells per liter, the brevetoxins produced by red tides can kill fish, birds and mammals by damaging their nervous system and causing paralysis. Usually, it’s gone by the spring, but not always. The algae can grow far offshore and pile up near the coast in the fall and winter. This particular strain is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico. Red tides happen all over the world, caused by different algae species. While they might seem like a new phenomenon, red tides have been occurring since they were first observed in the Gulf of Mexico in the 1700s. What Is A Red Tide?īasically, a red tide is an algae bloom, when higher-than-normal concentrations of microscopic organisms collect in one area of the ocean and start to multiply. The red tides appear to be affecting humans and animals in Florida counties such as Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier. This time, it’s happening in Southwest Florida due to a toxic alga known as Karenia brevis. It’s always unsettling to hear dead fish are washing up on the shores of beaches.
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