Red Tide Threatens Gulf of Mexico Fish

A "Red Tide" of harmful algae has been identified just off Florida's west coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Officials say that it is likely behind the large number of fish and sea turtle deaths recently reported by fishermen and beachgoers.

Red Tide, also known as "Rust Tide" or "Red Bloom," are most commonly characterized by a rusty red color of the blooming phytoplankton dinoflagellates Alexandrium or Karenia brevis - single celled algae.

Harmful algae blooms, (HABs) have been associated with the release of toxins in the water and general oxygen depletion. A high enough concentration can also block sunlight, depriving creatures beneath the oceans of essential vitamin-D.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a dangerously concentrated level of Karenia brevis was identified 40 to 90 miles offshore between Dixie and Pasco counties. Satellite imagery has revealed that the bloom takes up a swath of the Gulf of Mexico that is approximately 80 miles long and 50 miles wide.

"FWC's Fish Kill Hotline has received reports of thousands of dead and moribund benthic reef fish including various snapper and grouper species, hogfish, grunts, crabs, sea turtles, flounder, bull sharks, lionfish, baitfish, eel, sea snakes, tomtates, lizardfish, filefish, octopus, and triggerfish," the Commission reported.

Thankfully, officials have not tied any human respiratory irritation associated to the bloom. The FWC says it will be watching this bloom closely, but short term forecasts do not indicate that the patch will move closer to shore this week. Remarkably, this is the only dangerously concentrated bloom identified in Florida waters so far this summer.

Nature World News reported last May that some lawmakers are fighting to have the federal government better monitor Red Tides and related harmful blue-green algae blooms in fresh water - which have been tied to the dangerous release of cyanotoxins.