3 years ago, a massive algae bloom in Florida killed 2,000 tons of marine life. It s threatening again By: CNN
By Arthur Brice, CNN (CNN) It s not just tourists who invade Florida in the summer.
The colorfully named, obnoxious and sometimes deadly microorganisms known as red tide and blue green algae also take advantage of the change in temperature to proliferate. And it causes major problems.
Both types of algae bloom are starting to make their presence known along some of southwestern Florida s most beautiful shorelines. Whether they re moving in for the summer or just teasing remains to be seen.
For now, though, all seems well. The fishermen of Cortez are keeping their eyes on local water conditions, Bell said. So far, they have seen some algal blooms, but not too much beyond that. The winds have kept them off the water this week. They re hoping the turbulence created by the weather will help break up any static water where algae growth would thrive.
Charter boat captain Rios said he hasn t come across any red tide either.
Red tide is not a new phenomenon
The Florida Department of Health notes that red tides were documented in the southern Gulf of Mexico in the 1700s and along Florida s Gulf Coast since the 1840s. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says Karenia brevis, the microorganism responsible for red tide, was not identified until 1946.
It’s not just tourists who invade Florida in the summer.
The colorfully named, obnoxious and sometimes deadly microorganisms known as red tide and blue green algae also take advantage of the change in temperature to proliferate. And it causes major problems.
Both types of algae bloom are starting to make their presence known along some of southwestern Florida’s most beautiful shorelines. Whether they’re moving in for the summer or just teasing remains to be seen.
Many of those who make their living on the water are fairly sanguine about it.
“I believe red tide is going to be here with us every summer,” said Rafael Rios, who has owned a charter fishing boat out of St. Petersburg for 15 years but said he has been fishing the waters of Tampa Bay for 40 years. “There’s years we don’t see any. There’s years we see a lot more.”