What are some hints for visiting beaches during Florida red tides?Ĭheck Mote's Beach Conditions Reporting for conditions at the beach you plan to visit. Do not swim among dead fish because they can be associated with harmful bacteria. If you experience irritation, get out thoroughly wash off. Use common sense – if you are particularly susceptible to irritation from plant products, avoid red tide water. However, in some people, red tide can cause skin irritation and burning eyes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reports red tide concentration levels throughout Florida here. Mote’s Beach Conditions Reporting System provides beach conditions reports from select beaches in the Southwest coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle. How can I find out about current red tide conditions? Generally, symptoms are temporary and disappear within hours. People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions (such as emphysema or asthma) are advised to avoid red tide areas. Some people may experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, and tearing) when the red tide organism is present along a coast and winds blow aerosolized toxins onshore. How is red tide related to respiratory irritation? Some red tides have even been carried by the Gulf Stream current into the Atlantic Ocean as far north as Delaware. Florida red tides can be transported around the Gulf of Mexico as coastal waters move with winds and currents. brevis, is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico from Mexico to Florida. Yet, the organism that causes Florida's red tide, K. Yes, many algae species cause red tides all over the world. Respiratory irritation and dead fish are not always present. It is important to realize that many people still enjoy the beaches during red tides. The effects also depend on wind speed and direction. The effects of a red tide (e.g., dead fish and respiratory irritation in people) depend on the movement and concentration of the red tide microorganism at a given time. The occurrence of a red tide cannot be predicted, scientists can provide a 3.5 day forecast of where a bloom will move using wind and water current data. Red tides were documented in the southern Gulf of Mexico as far back as the 1700s and along Florida's Gulf coast in the 1840s. The water can even remain its normal color during a bloom. At high concentrations (called a bloom), the organisms may discolor the water a red or brown hue. This organism produces a toxin that can affect the central nervous system of fish. In Florida, the species that causes most red tides is Karenia brevis ( K. Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionĪ red tide is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plant-like organisms).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |