Where do toxic algae still cover the coast?

Several months after its appearance in Florida, a widespread toxic red tide continues to threaten wildlife, killing thousands of fish and disrupting the sun's state tourism.

The red tide, which comes from the body Karenia brevis, extends from Pinellas County up to the southwest of the state up to Collier County, covering an area about 120 miles from the coast. Samples taken in Sarasota County, Charlotte County and Lee County all showed high concentrations of algae – more than a million cells per liter. However, in some areas of Sarasota County and Collier County, samples showed a decrease in concentration since the previous week.

the Karenia brevis blooming probably extends to about 10 miles offshore and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) credited passage of tropical storm Gordon for transporting cells to the northwest.

Samples collected in Bay County had a very low concentration, while samples taken on the east coast of Florida contained no samples. Karenia brevis.

Karenia brevis is the species of algae that most often causes the Florida Red Tide – a harmful bloom with a higher than normal concentration of algae. Red tides were documented as early as the 1700s in the Gulf of Mexico and were recorded in the Gulf Coast of Florida in the 1840s.

From a span of weeks to more than a year, a red tide can fluctuate and give the water a red or brown hue, although the water sometimes retains its natural color.

The counties of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Lee all reported that fish had been killed, while some people in Manatee, Sarasota and Lee counties had respiratory irritation. Karenia brevis produces toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals. In animals, toxins affect the central nervous system, resulting in death. Red tides can also cause serious illness in people with serious or chronic respiratory illnesses.

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A map of where the Florida Red Tide was discovered was published by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

On Sunday, employees from Pinellas County worked to clean up hundreds of thousands of fish that had been killed near the Tampa Bay area after being in contact with toxic algae. Boats were brought to pick up dead fish that were floating in the offshore waters to be dumped.

The Florida Red Tide began to affect the state in October 2017. August 13; Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared the state of emergency, directing funds and resources to the counties of Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee to help with the cleaning and rescue of the animals.

The clean-up teams included four inmates from Manatee County who worked two days of eight hours in August to shorten their sentences.

"Low risk inmates work inside and outside the jail," said Manatee County Sheriff's Office Information Director Dave Bristow. Newsweek. "They are all prisoners sentenced to less than a year, they can get three days off for 30 days of work, but we do not talk a ton of time because their sentence is less than to start. "

While researchers are working to find a way to control Florida's red tides, there is currently no way to control or kill red tidal blooms.