What is Red Tide and Should the United States be concerned?
Red tide is a natural occurrence that happens when large algae blooms grow out of control in saltwater bodies. This includes the ocean, bays, and estuaries to name a few. This leads to an event known as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), where the water turns red or brownish-red. The algae blooms release toxins into the surrounding waters. These toxins can cause illness and death to marine organisms, including fish, shellfish, and mammals. Red tide can also cause respiratory issues in humans, making it a growing concern.
In recent years, red tide has become more prevalent and severe along the coast of Florida. The emergence of Red Tide on Florida’s coastline is causing concern for locals, tourists, and government officials. The increase of this occurrence is most likely due to various environmental factors. Warmer ocean temperatures, rising sea levels caused by climate change are culprits. Also, we cannot forget about excess nutrients in the water from agricultural practices and sewage runoff.
The effects of red tide on marine life and fisheries can be devastating. In 2018, Florida experienced one of its worst red tide outbreaks in history. This included the death of over 200 million pounds of sea life. This included fish, manatees, dolphins, and so much more. This event also harmed the local economy. Commercial and recreational fishing activities came to a hault as a result.
Should the United Stated be worried about red tide in 2023? The short answer is yes. Here’s why. Climate change continues to cause warmer temperatures and rising sea levels. These are the perfect conditions that will lead to an increase in algae blooms. Additionally, with the growing emphasis on reducing agriculture and sewage runoff into the ocean, the excess nutrients could be reduced, causing less algae to grow. However, this could take years to achieve. To combat red tide, government officials need to invest in research and development of new technologies. Technologies that will assist in detecting, controlling, and predicting red tide events is key. Additionally, the masses must be educated on the dangers of red tide. People must learn how they can reduce their impact on the environment as well. These steps are crucial in combatting this phenomenon.
Red tide is a natural occurrence caused by environmental and human factors. While it has become a growing concern for the public, there are steps that can be taken to reduce its impact. We must invest time and resources into finding practical, long-term solutions to protect our oceans and marine life.
