Wednesday 22 March 2017

Heads Up! Red tide has returned to parts of Florida's coast: Expect dead fish coughing fits and breathing problems for beach goers

Photo www.regions.noaa.gov
  • Toxic algae blooms are becoming bigger, longer lasting and increasingly more toxic along the North American coast and inland waters
A heads up if you have plans at the beach this week; red tide has returned to parts of  Florida's coast.
New tests by Florida Fish and Wildlife have detected low to medium levels along the Charlotte County coastline.
Algae blooms has plagued Florida off and on for years.
It's known to cause fish kills and breathing problems for people who are at the beach when red tide is present.
It will cause problems for your pets and has been known to kill dogs.

Last July it was claimed "This is our Deep Water Horizon!" as Florida's Atlantic coast became a state of emergency as massive algae blooms attacked North American waters
A smelly, "guacamole-thick" muck is fouling a stretch of beaches promoted as Florida's "Treasure Coast," where lawmakers and residents blame the federal government, saying the algae crisis is fueled by freshwater flows controlled by Army officials to protect an erosion-prone dike.
The blue-green algae is the latest contaminant featured in yearslong arguments over water flowing from Lake Okeechobee, which is critical to South Florida's water supply and flood control systems. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as blooms of toxic algae plagued beaches along the state's Atlantic coast.

Photo MySuncoast.comIn January this year thousands of dead fish once again washed up along the Suncoast beaches Florida!
The red tide caused respiratory irritation to beach gowers.
Suncoast area beaches had been inundated with dead fish washing ashore.
It is a microscopic algae bloom basically that causes the water to turn red.
It's like basically taking the oxygen away from the fish.
Area health departments and Mote Marine scientists have also issued warnings saying the impact goes beyond the marine life.
"Volunteers reported what they saw and have noticed thousands of dead fish dead fish as well as respiratory irritation which could be coughing or sneezing.


Just last month 81 false killer whales died after stranding themselves off the South Florida coast, see photo above.
NOAA initially reported that 95 false killer whales were stranded in South Florida.

Then on the Monday afternoon,  A NOAA Fish Southeast expert tweeted that 81 whales had died and also said the whales were at a remote location off of Hog Key in the Everglades.
Red or green algae was not mentioned as the cause of death however, just a couple of weeks later thousands of bees were washed ashore in the same area. 
The bees where washing up at Lowdermilk Park Beach Naples in Florida.
Some visitors said they're staying away after being stung while walking the shoreline.
Many people said the bee problem has popped up during the past few days.
Bee experts are describing the event as unusual and get this “uncommon behavior for bees to wash up on the beach!”

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