Red Tide

The poisonous algal bloom, referred to as the red tide, has left the Florida Gulf Coast’s white sand beach littered with odorous fish kills, discolored water and dense green algae. The red tide began in October 2017 and has been decimating Florida’s west coast ever since.

The algae, Karenia brevis, has occurred naturally in the Gulf since the 15th century. According to research done in 2006 by Larry E. Brand, a professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, the blooms of K. brevis produce chemicals called brevetoxins, which affect the vertebrate nervous systems of marine mammals.

The density of the algal blooms has increased significantly, largely due to human activities. Over 2,000 tons of dead marine life have washed up on the shores of Florida’s beaches, costing millions of dollars in cleanup costs. By August 2017, Florida Governor Rick Scott had declared a state of emergency in seven counties on the West Coast.

The algal bloom is expected to last well into winter and possibly even spring months, putting even more marine life at risk. Manatees are beginning to migrate back to coastal waters, exposing them to the red tide and skyrocketing their mortality rate. Unfortunately, manatees are only one marine animal that has suffered from the bloom’s disastrous effects.

According to Adam Roberti, a volunteer for the Miami Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program, Florida’s coasts are the perfect nesting spot for sea turtles, which are now an endangered species.

“The hatchlings are starting to come up and make it into the water,” he said. “If the red tide is there, then they are not nearly as likely to survive.” Since the bloom appeared in October 2017, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins and birds have experienced the highest mortality rates behind fish.

Due to the high concentration of the blooms, they are not just harmful to marine life. The Florida Department of Health’s website warns locals who live near coastal areas of potential side effects including eye, nose and throat irritation as well as respiratory issues commonly referred to as the “red tide tickle.” These effects are especially dangerous for those with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions.

“We couldn’t even eat outside,” said Morgan Smith, a senior at the University of Miami who interned at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota this past summer. The air quality was so bad in the area during summer months that locals could feel its respiratory effects while driving inside closed cars. In August, the Sarasota County website noted that over 255 tons of red tide debris had been collected on their beaches alone.

While many beaches are being closed due to the dangers of the bloom, others remain open with warnings, as the economy of several cities along both the east and west coasts of the state have been struggling. Many local businesses rely on tourism and have lost tens of millions of dollars due to the bloom, causing some businesses to close their doors to the public.

Adam Lambert, a resident of Oldsmar, a city on Tampa Bay, owns a fishing business and began to notice the changes that the red tide was causing around two months ago. Since then, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued a temporary catch-and-release policy on counties that have been greatly affected. Lambert worries about the future of his business as the problem gets worse.

“If this continues, it will kill our fish population,” Lambert said, stressing the potential disasters the bloom could cause if it survives into winter and spring months as projected.

Under the direction of Governor Scott, the state’s tourism board, Visit Florida, has created a $500,000 emergency grant program to assist local tourism boards in affected counties. Despite all efforts, local businesses such as Lambert’s will continue to be at risk until the red tide has subsided.

Unfortunately, there is no way to forecast the blooms, as they cannot be seen on satellite. “The duration of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on physical and biological conditions that influence its growth and persistence,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Therefore, the conditions can be monitored with forecasting tools that attempt to predict how long the red tide will last, but no one can be certain.

The causes of the heavily concentrated outbreak have been widely debated. The most commonly cited cause of the blooms is increased nutrient-rich land runoff, from both natural and manmade sources. Many locals in affected counties believe there is a connection between the dumping in Lake Okeechobee that eventually meets the Gulf of Mexico and the large red tide blooms that follow. For years, the nutrient-rich water from Lake Okeechobee was released into nearby rivers.

The sugar industry, comprised of several companies between South Florida and Lake Okeechobee – many of which heavily contributed to both political campaigns in 2016 and 2018 – have been under fire from the public for operating under the radar, while contributing to this issue. The companies are rumored to have given money to several Floridian political leaders, possibly affecting their decisionmaking processes in regard to water policy in the state. Agricultural runoff is believed to have exacerbated the issue, although it certainly is not the sole contributor.

According to The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), not only is there no direct link between nutrient pollution and the red tides, but the algal blooms occurred in Florida long before the coastlines were developed or settled at all. They do, however, note that the blooms can use manmade nutrients from the urban or agricultural runoff for their growth once they come in contact with each other.

Despite intense research efforts being conducted by several laboratories around the country, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stands behind their statement that there is currently no way to control the blooms.

The Mote Marine Lab has continued extensive water testing since receiving $100,000 to conduct research and animal rescue in partnership with the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida.

According to senior Morgan Smith, who worked for the lab’s Coral Health and Disease Program, the research team takes a cell count every morning and researches the effects that the algal bloom has on the results taken from their phytoplankton, crab and scallop labs. Their website tells of the team’s dedication to taking a holistic approach in understanding the bloom with hopes of mitigating its effects.

While the bloom is most highly concentrated on the west coast of Florida, it has been making a rare appearance on the east coast since October of this year. Beaches in Palm Beach and Martin County were closed due to the toxic algal blooms after swimmers started to complain of scratchy throats, and coughing.

Miami Dade County has also closed several beaches where the waters have shown to have “medium concentration” of the algae. The emergence of the bloom in the Miami area has brought concern upon University of Miami students.

Megan Berger, the President of the Scuba Club, discussed her recent conversations with advisers and school administrators over the movement of the red tide and its apparent effects on students.

“If one of our divers has asthma, it would be putting them at risk,” she said, acknowledging the dangers of diving in affected waters, despite offshore conditions being generally less severe. While every member is required to sign a waiver assuming the risk before a dive, Berger and the club’s advisers will avoid any beach dives, and will only plan boat dives in areas clear of the algae.

Despite the algae not having hit Miami-Dade County in high concentrations yet, several beachgoers in Broward County recently complained of coughing and irritation. In response to the proximity of their beaches, Miami-Dade County officials closed several northern beaches – all southern beaches have remained open, including Miami Beach, which is heavily driven by tourism.

“We are taking this proactive step to ensure our residents and visitors are not affected as we collect samples in other areas for state testing,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez wrote in a letter to the Miami Board of Commissioners.

Although the outbreak of the red tide is concerning or even devastating for all Florida residents, visitors and the state’s much-loved marine animals, staying updated on the current locations of the bloom, as well as the continued research and animal rescue efforts, is all students can really do until the issue is finally resolved.

Despite the disheartening crisis of the red tide outbreak on the east and west coasts of Florida, there are several ways that everyone can help improve conditions. The Marine Mote Laboratory website lists many ways that residents of the state, or even people in town for a visit, can pitch in. If you are in an affected area, report if you experience any respiratory irritation or other symptoms through their free app CSIC (Citizen Science Information Collaboration) or by visiting www. motecsic.org. You can also use the app to send a report if you spot any dead fish or discolored water. If you notice any distressed animals, including sea turtles, dolphins or manatees, send a specific report, including photos and video if possible, to wildlife responders at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) using the phone number 888-404-3922. To go above and beyond, you can ask your county and city governments how you can help. Each area needs different aid and attention; no service act is too small. Your willingness to help can make all the difference in this outbreak.

Abstract art was inspired by the vague future of the environmental phenomenon overtaking our beaches. Painted by UM sophomore Grace Chepenik, these artworks encapsulate the struggle we face both in the long and short term. Although the effects of red tide are beginning to subside in some places, the beaches of Florida’s west coast are still considered a public safety hazard.

Words: Abby Washer | Art: Grace Chepenik | Design: Lindsey Falack