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The east winds of the weather systems moved the surface waters, but did not break the algae
SARASOTA – The beaches are improving, at least for the moment.
Water samples taken Tuesday on Sarasota County's beaches show a significant decrease in red tide cell concentrations, according to officials at the Mote Marine Laboratory who conducted the tests.
There are no more "high" concentrations of the red tide, Karenia brevis, on the beaches of Sarasota County, but four sites – Blind Pass, South Lido, Siesta and Turtle – had average concentrations.
In a report released Tuesday in a report, Sarasota County Emergency Management said none of the sites reported the presence of red tide aerosols or fish.
Read more: Full coverage of the Red Tide in Southwest Florida
The results were obtained one day after Tropical Storm Gordon fought the waters of West Florida and after about a week of easterly winds. The overall impact of weather conditions on the proliferation of red tides will not be known until the completion of an aerial survey and additional tests.
Vincent Lovko, Mote's phytoplankton ecologist, said the winds moved parts of the flower to the surface further offshore, pushing dead fish and reducing respiratory effects. But he did not think the storm was strong enough to kill the toxic seaweed band 145 miles long.
"It's hard to say if these sustained offshore winds could dispel proliferation," Lovko said. "We are approaching this time of year when – if we had not already bloomed – we would normally see flowering along the coast, obviously this time of year often has conditions for flowering. a flower is already in the area, there are reasons to think that she might stay. "
According to Lovko, it is unlikely that the tropical storm has cured the area of violent red tide proliferation. The storm did not pass above flowering and did not have enough energy to bring enough water back.
"I do not think we will see a disturbance of this bloom because of the storm," said Lovko.
Beach lovers
Sarasota County has collected 173 tonnes of dead fish and debris on public beaches since August 1st. On Tuesday, only a normal raking of the beaches was done.
The fish remains were scattered on parts of Siesta and Bradenton Beach on Wednesday, but some beachgoers, including Mike and Bernie Breindel from Pennsylvania, took advantage of the water.
The couple said that they had come to Florida to visit his family and that they knew the red tide was present, but that did not affect their plans.
"My sister lives here," said Mike Breindel. "We would come and visit anyway, whatever the water."
The Breindels said they had been warned of poor water conditions after landing in Florida. A woman at the airport told them that the red tide, which started in October 2017, got worse in June. She did not recommend going to the beach.
But Mike Breindel, a passionate hunter and fisherman who experimented with freshwater blue-green algae in Lake Erie, said he wanted to visit the Gulf Coast anyway.
He and his wife visited shops and eaten seafood on Bridge Street this week. They knew that local businesses were struggling.
"A shop owner said tourism was far from normal because of the red tide," Bernie Breindel said.
Federal assistance
The US Small Business Administration announced on Wednesday that an SBA Disaster Loan Awareness Center will open its doors at the Manatee County Island Library on Friday to help businesses that have been affected by the Red Tide.
The library is located at 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
The Manatee County Economic Development Team and Local Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce members will also be present to provide information and resources to help and assist businesses document their financial losses at Floridadisaster.biz.
The temporary SBA center will operate until further notice. No appointments are necessary.
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