Red Tide all Summer!

21 years ago

I've been meaning to start a thread about this for awhile.I live on the FL Gulf Coast (Suncoast), near Tampa Bay & we've had Red Tide for months - since June @ least.The stench was horrific throughout June & July & finally subsided about mid-August.We thought it was over, but it's apparently STILL around.

In the past (I've lived here for more than 40 years), Red Tide was a once-every-few-years phenomenon & lasted only a week, @ the most.This is exceptional.Scientists have been testing , but I've yet to see/hear of any results.

This has really impacted a LOT of our local economy - IOW, tourism & fishing & local papers/news media has been rather mute on the subject - I suspect because they do not want to alarm people & scare away what little tourism is left.The grossest thing is that some people (who may not know better) are FISHING (& presumably eating @ least some of the catch) & SWIMMING in it too = (

The horrible thing is that Red Tide, besides killing multitudes of sealife (even sea turtles & stone crabs), creates some REALLY BAD AIR & lotsa folks have had health problems because of it.Upper respiratory infections & allergic reactions are rampant around here = (

While reports focus on current conditions, there is little discussion of cause - but some folks are pointing out recent release of large am'ts of phosphates into Tampa Bay as a likely factor.

Something is TERRIBLY wrong.....

Here is a link that might be useful: FL Fish & Wildlife Svc

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Comments (4)

mudbugtx
21 years ago
I knew that the Texas coast had red tide events just about every year but found out some interesting info from the Texas Parks and Wildlife site. For instance, events have been occuring for the last 50 years but 50% of those were in the last 10 yrs.

I'm linking to another site (not the TPWD site) that has lots of interesting info. I've also recently wondered what impact Katrina's aftermath is having on the gulf.

Here is a link that might be useful: HAB
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
Original Author
21 years ago
Wow! thanks mudbug, that looks like a good site.

So this is increasing worldwide?Yeesh!
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lilyroseviolet
21 years ago
dont go blaming Katrina, although that is a NEW folded problem added to a pre-existing situations that is in great concern with out the added complex inpact that Katrina will certainly bring on.

Here in Maine the red tide has been an issue most of the year and a concern to those who harvest clams or hen clams,seaweed, etc.,and etc..

It has been blamed on various causes, global warming is a reacurring culprit that is a constant blame for red tide, and then there is toxic water from industrial manufactored waste or by-products which originates in various forms and find its way to an aquifer which consequently finds a body of water which take it to the ocean and has effects on the tidal zones.

In Maine there are students working with different programs to prove that certain bays that are loosing all its eel grass is due to pollutants and run off from blueberry fields or such after various velpar applications, there is also a strong group opposing this thought and focus on other new coincidences.

The classification of velpar was lessen when it proved problems in selling velpar to blueberry farmers who were concerned about toxic exposures and applications. This relieve the worry of known cancer causeing molecule combinations and won the confidence of blueberry farmers to purchase and continue using these products.
ericwi
21 years ago
Our blueberry shrubs are mulched heavily in the fall with shredded maple leaves, to help keep the weeds down. Even so, I have to kneel and pull every summer, so there is some labor involved in keeping the shrubs healthy and productive. If I had to use Velpar or something similar to get a good crop of blueberries, I would rip them up.