![]() ![]() National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): (See full list of red tide resources at the top of this page.) ![]() Currently, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide status reports about Florida red tides to the public. The information provided by forecasting and monitoring allows people to make informed decisions regarding their beach-going activities. Red tide movement and concentration are important because the effects of a red tide, such as dead fish and human respiratory irritation, depend on these factors. Scientists also monitor the concentration of the red tide organism by collecting water samples routinely and in response to blooms. Department of HealthĪlthough the occurrence of a Florida red tide cannot be predicted, scientists can forecast its movement using wind and water current data once a bloom is located. If your symptoms don’t get better, see a doctor. For people without asthma or chronic respiratory problems, over-the-counter antihistamines can help. If you come into contact with red tide, wash off with soap and water. You can get relief from respiratory symptoms by being in an air-conditioned space. Pets can become sick from red tide so keep them away from those areas, and contaminated marine animals and fish.ĭon’t swim in or around red tide because the toxin can cause skin irritation, rashes and burning and sore eyes. If you have health issues, stay away from areas with red tide. Reactions to red tide are worse for people with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis or any chronic lung disease. If you have ever visited a beach during a red tide, you may have experienced the "red tide tickle" which can include itchy throat and coughing.Įven if you’re not prone to respiratory issues you should be careful: these toxins can cause breathing problems, and can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. brevis red tide is respiratory irritation. One of the most frequent symptoms people experience during a K. The Florida Department of Health advises that people with underlying chronic respiratory problems like asthma or COPD should avoid red tide areas, especially when winds are blowing toxins on or near shore. However, when red tides travel inshore on wind and water currents, they can cause respiratory irritation among beachgoers, especially those who have underlying lung diseases. Red tides form many miles offshore, sometimes causing no impact to humans. It produces brevetoxins - powerful and potent neurotoxins - that can kill marine animals and be harmful to humans. To learn more about red tide and its health and environmental impacts, click here.Florida red tide is a higher-than-normal concentration of a naturally occurring, microscopic algae called Karenia brevis, often abbreviated as K. Gulf Coast Ocean Observing Systems has a tracker for Red Tide, along the West Coast on Florida. Pete Clearwater has a page on its website where you can check the conditions at any Pinellas County beach. Luckily, there are lots of resources that you can use to know if there's red tide before your next beach trip. This weekend you may see crews cleaning up the dead fish, but luckily, experts say this particular bloom is patchy and moving through quickly. ![]() We've come off a very tremendous spring that's led right into summer and looking ahead and talking with our industry and talking with our hotels, we think it's going to be positive and we're still sticking with that,” said Steve Hayes, President of Visit St. “We're very bullish and positive about the rest of the summer season. Online resources allow you to track Red Tideĭead fish are washing up on beaches all along Pinellas County’s coast, but tourism officials said people aren’t canceling their beach trips because of it.Clean up crews are working to remove the dead fish.Red tide is causing respiratory problems and dead fish to wash up at some Pinellas County beaches.
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