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MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Test results released Friday revealed low levels of red tide at several locations along the Broward County coastline, authorities said.
Deerfield Beach Mayor Bill Ganz said the international fishing wharf will be closed on Friday and Saturday, as a precaution. Pompano Beach said it would raise flags and affix signs to warn swimmers, but that the city would not close the beach.
The tests conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission revealed:
- Low concentrations in Dr. Von D. Mizell National Parks Eula Johnson and Hallandale
- Very low concentration on the beaches of Deerfield, Pompano, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood
- Absence of concentration or background on Hillsboro and Dania beaches
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County and state authorities reopened their public beaches north of Haulover, including Haulover Park on Friday – a day after the detection of the Red Tide. Beaches in Palm Beach County, which had been closed due to the red tide, also reopened on Friday.
They said that water should be safe for most people. However, the red tide can be harmful to fish, birds and humans. Officials urge people with chronic respiratory problems such as asthma not to frequent areas affected by the red tide.
Red tide occurs when microscopic algae multiply faster than normal, causing discoloration of water. The fast currents push the red tide from the west coast of Florida to the east. The authorities said it was only the eighth time that the red tide was recorded on the east coast.
Friday, the water from Haulover beach seemed clear, but up close, beachgoers could say that something was wrong with the water.
"There's a little red tide here, but other than that, it's pretty good, people are swimming," said Robert Williams.
The beaches north of Haulover were closed Thursday after tests showed concentrations of Karenia brevis, the body responsible for the red tide. Despite the reopening, many beachgoers are still standing out of the water.
"It looks very polluted, it's brown, dark, it looks naughty, and I can even see fish, like dishes, it's bad." said Patrice Sylvester.
Those who ventured into the water told us that they had to go out because of breathing problems.
"Yeah, I had rather the feeling of sneezing a bit, I saw a guy coughing," Williams said.
The FWC publishes the results of its red tide tests in real time on its website.
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