DEFINING THE PROBLEM
In today’s world, red tide has become an issue to our local economy, environment, and way of life across the world, but especially in Florida. According to Reich et al., “ “red tide” is a harmful algal bloom that occurs when toxic, microscopic algae in seawater proliferate to a higher-than normal concentration (i.e., bloom), often discoloring the water red, brown, green, or yellow”(Nassau County, Florida, 2007). Our purpose for writing this report is to talk about red tide and the harmful algae blooms, or HABs often abbreviated by others. We’ll be discussing a brief history of the situation with cause and effects about red tide and algae blooms. Coming soon will be the second part of the report explaining the possible solutions.
Photo #1 was taken in October 2017 that was the discoloration red tide (Depp, Ben). Photo #2 is a picture taken in 1953 where an 18-month red tide occurred along the Florida Gulf Coast which is the longest on record (Photos: A history of Florida red tide). Photo #3 is a diagram explaining what could help the growth of red tide (Factors That Cause the Formation of Red Tides / Algal Blooms). Photo #4 is a picture of a lifeguard wearing a mask and gases probably due to the fact the red tide went airborne.
HISTORY OF RED TIDE
History
Red tide and algae isn’t a new issue, in fact, signs of red tide might have been seen since the 16th century. In 1528, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, a survivor of the expedition of Pan-filo de Narvaez, recorded, “All those people had no reckoning by either sun or moon, nor do they count by months and years; they judge of the seasons by the ripening of fruits, by the time when fish die, and by the appearance of the stars, in all of which they are very clever and expert” (Magana, pg. 164). In Cabeza de Vaca’s recording mentioning “fish kills” has led many to believe that he was describing red tide. A few years later, Fray Diego Lopez de Collogudo in 1648 documented a massive fish kill where, as he said, “a ship from Spain encountered a mountain of dead fish near the coast. Dead fish were heaped on shore, and this is where the foul odor emanated.” At least 350 years red tide has existed and has been increasing frequently through out time. In Florida, it was first documented on the Atlantic coast in 1972 in south of Fernandina Beach, and further south in Jacksonville in 1980 and 1999”(Nassau County, Florida, 2007). In 2007, many employees of a dredging company working at Fernandina Beach became ill with symptoms that the Nassau County Health Department attributed to red tide exposure (“Nassau County, Florida, 2007"). In October 2017, red tide was in the southwest coast which spreaded to the Florida panhandle and southeast coast; Today, red tide has been constantly monitored and comes back and dissipating during the winter (US Department of Commerce et al.).
CAUSES OF RED TIDE
Causes of Red Tide
Furthermore, According to the Corte ́s-Altamirano R. et al., harmful algae blooms are formed when the high quantity of biomass or by the production of toxins increase rapidly in phytoplankton causing harmful algal blooms (Corte ́s-Altamirano R, Pg. 1). HAB’s are caused by several factors: “temperature, solar radiation, nutrients, cofactors, and other organic compounds” (Corte ́s-Altamirano R, Pg. 1). Natural phenomenon’s, such as storms or hurricanes, have been said to have some effect on HABs as transport. For Example, according to NOAA, “a harmful algal bloom off the coast of southwest Florida in 2005 was carried up to the Florida Panhandle during Hurricane Katrina. Regarding the algal bloom currently affecting Florida, it appears to have intensified and spread to the Florida Panhandle after Tropical Storm Gordon in Sept. 2018” (US Department of Commerce et al.). There have been many factors in the growing of red tide such as the biology, chemistry, and ecology and continuous research is being done to understand red tide more everyday.
EFFECTS OF RED TIDE
Effects of Red Tide
In effect, red tide has a tremendous effect on the public health and our economies such as massive fish kills, contamination of fish, and inhalation of airborne toxins causing either respiratory irritation, stinging eyes, nose, and accompanied by a dry, choking cough (Magana, pg. 163). According to Congress, “Harmful algae blooms cause $82 million in economic losses to the seafood, restaurant and tourism industries each year in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)”(CONGRESS PASSES BUCHANAN-BACKED BILL TO COMBAT RED TIDE). The toxins produced by the harmful algae blooms affects the central nervous system of the fish killing them which leads to the deaths of birds, sea turtles, mammals, dolphins, and other marine animals (Florida Red Tide FAQs). As previously explained, HABs can also become airborne, which can affect public health by eye irritation and respiratory issues and for people with serious respiratory conditions such as asthma may experience more severe symptoms (US Department of Commerce et al.).