red tide

Researchers are “at the very start” of studying how shifting conditions could affect blooms. After years of inconsistent funding, even more immediate questions remain outstanding, like what exactly ends a bloom and what causes Red Tide to vary so much in severity from year to year.

Members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said more-proactive measures are needed because red tide outbreaks will continue to hinder the state, particularly the Gulf Coast, which is struggling with an outbreak in the Tampa Bay area.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried made appearances Tuesday along the Gulf Coast, offering competing views about an ongoing toxic red-tide outbreak. Earlier in the day, DeSantis was in Miami to announce the removal of the Old Tamiami Trail roadbed, a project that was completed six months ahead of schedule.

Florida physicians discuss the latest wave of the coronvirus and what can be done to mitigate the spread and the latest information on the red tide outbreak plaguing the Guld Coast.

Although Gov. Ron DeSantis said his administration is “committed to being in this fight,” Florida environmental groups expressed disappointment that the governor has ignored calls for him to implement a state of emergency in the region weren’t implemented for the region.

The hordes of fish were killed by a red tide, a large "bloom" of toxic algae that appears on Florida's Gulf Coast about once a year. Experts say the bloom shouldn't be happening right now.

The smell of dead fish filled the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, as scores of catfish and horseshoe crabs killed by red tide floated belly-up in the shadow of the city marina.

Dead fish have washed ashore from Elsa and swamped St. Petersburg. Crews from the city have collected nine tons of dead fish since Thursday. City officials said they were killed by red tide blooms.

Tom Frazer, the dean and a professor at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, said the phosphate plant could be helping to fuel the outbreak.

For two wet and dry seasons, researchers will observe Tampa Bay for nutrients and how they feed the red tide organism Karenia brevis.

The Red Tide Respiratory Forecast has received $653,960 to “get more microscopes in more hands on more beaches.” The funds will also help to expand detection of other toxic algae species.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said this week the deepening red tide did not factor into the decision to scale back releases. But the agency also said it has decided not to appeal a judge's order to factor damage from algae blooms into managing lake releases.