Toxic Red Tide Costs Florida's Economy $2.7 Billion as Tourists Avoid Algal Blooms on Beaches [Study]

Red tide has cost Florida's coastal tourism economy by $2.7 billion USD as tourists avoided toxic algal blooms on the state's beaches. This assessment is according to a new study led by researchers in various institutions in the United States, including the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida A&M University, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The losses impacted tourism-related businesses in the Sunshine State due to the 2018 Florida red tide bloom. The toxic red tide affected not only commercial establishments catering to tourists and vacationers but also the state's tourism sector. In addition, marine animals are also affected by the environmental phenomenon, including sharks avoiding harmful algal blooms.

Algal bloom or algae bloom is a phenomenon that pertains to the rapid accumulation of the population of protists called algae. The blooming event can occur in freshwater or marine water systems. The main indicator of algae-infested water is discoloration, ranging from light to dark green, coming from the algae's pigments.

Florida Red Tide Economic Impact

The researchers published their findings on the Florida red tide and its economic impact to the state in the Journal of Environmental Management, where they described toxic algae blooms and their impact on tourism as potential "billion-dollar" disasters.

The research paper is the first ecosystem-scale assessment of economic losses to tourism-related business during the event called harmful algal bloom (HAB). The research team arrived at their conclusion by integrating biological and economic databases to estimate HAB-related economic gains or losses.

2018 Florida Red Tide Bloom

The 2018 Florida red tide bloom, also called the Fall 2018 Red Tide Event, affected Florida and the Gulf Coast, particularly occurring in the southwest coast starting October 2017. It then spread to the Panhandle and the eastern coast of Florida, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Ocean Service.

A short-lived algal bloom occurred in Texas in September 2018, where red tides, caused by the Karenia brevis algae, produced harmful toxins that are life-threatening to marine life. The National Ocean Service stated these toxins can cause death, respiratory irritation, and mortality for various animals, including birds, manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles.

Why Are Algal Blooms Harmful?

Algal blooms are harmful since they produce "extremely dangerous toxins" with the potential to cause sickness or death to people and animals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The protists can also create dead zones in the water, as well as increase treatment costs for drinking water, and damage clean water-dependent industries.

The EPA adds that nutrient pollution originating from human activities worsens the red tide bloom problem, leading to more severe and frequent algal blooms. These harmful algae need sunlight, slow-moving water, and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) to thrive, according to the US Government Environmental Agency.