Source: BBC
Florida’s coasts are inundated with dead fish as algae blooms once again turn the water a toxic reddish-brown. Although this “red tide” regularly occurs in parts of Florida and Texas (as well as the neighboring coasts of Mexico) in the summer and fall, scientists say the algae arrive earlier than usual. and at a higher level than usual.
The algae that cause red tides is Karenia brevis, a microscopic single-celled organism that produces a potent neurotoxin called brevetoxin, which can cause mass death to sea creatures and seabirds. It also poses risks to human health, such as skin irritation and respiratory problems. Brevetoxin can also accumulate in shellfish such as clams and oysters, potentially causing food poisoning when consumed.
Over the past few days, Fort Myers Beach, about 7 miles long, has seen more than 13 tons of dead fish wash ashore. On the beaches of Siesta Key, off the coast of Sarasota, hundreds of dead fish washed ashore for kilometers, causing beachgoers to burn their eyes and cough frequently. According to Matthew Garrett, a biologist at Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Service, potentially harmful concentrations of algae have been detected in waters along about 150 miles of the state’s Gulf Coast. with blooms extending 3 to 10 miles out to sea.
While red tides are a natural phenomenon, scientists say climate change is making the problem worse. K. brevis It thrives in water temperatures up to about 83 degrees, but it doesn’t grow faster than that. However, researchers have found that algae can tolerate higher temperatures and grow faster due to increased levels of carbon dioxide—the main greenhouse gas released by human activities.
Killing or even controlling algae blooms has proven almost impossible, so the severity of an early red tide doesn’t bode well. Florians can only hope that it doesn’t turn out to be as bad as 2017–2018, when some 2,000 tons of marine life perished, including hundreds of turtles, dozens of manatees and even a single one. Whale Sharks.
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