·

Thousands of dead fish washed ashore on Sarasota County, Florida

Thousands of dead fish have washed ashore on a small stretch of shore from Englewood Beach to Stump Pass due to a red tide bloom. Ocean currents are shifting again and most of the dead fish — along with the red tide bloom that killed them — will be heading away from Sarasota County.

A red tide bloom — caused by toxic algae — is lingering offshore from Englewood south to Sanibel Island. The bloom is forecast to move to the southeast over the weekend and could get pushed out to sea by Sunday or Monday, said Jason Lenes, a research associate with the Center for Prediction of Red Tides at the University of South Florida.

After a 5-year hiatus, red tide began to proliferate for the first time about three weeks ago off the coast of Manasota and Venice beaches. The bloom moved south to Lee County and then slightly north again this week. The bloom reportedly killed thousands of fish, most of which are floating offshore.

Karenia brevis, the algae that causes red tide, produces a powerful fish-killing toxin that also makes people on the beach cough and wheeze. When winds are blowing onshore during a red tide bloom, people with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, should avoid the beach.

For those north of Englewood beach, the picture is not as grim as earlier. There are no reports of dead fish on any other beaches in the region. The red tide irritant has also not been reported north of Englewood, meaning other beaches in Sarasota and Manatee counties are likely unaffected.

Several residents in Englewood reported the fish kills to the state wildlife hotline on Friday. Among the dead species were pinfish, catfish, ladyfish and redfish. (HeraldTribune)

Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon also known as an algal bloom (large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms), an event in which estuarine, marine or freshwater algae accumulate rapidly in the water column and result in discoloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas.

These algae, known as phytoplankton, are single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water’s surface. Certain species of phytoplankton, dinoflagellates, contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red.

When the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discolored or murky, varying in color from purple to almost pink, normally being red or green. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discoloration, and not all discolored waters associated with algal blooms are red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with the tidal movement of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom.

Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms.

The most conspicuous effects of this kind of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities of marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals, and other organisms. In the case of Florida red tides, these mortalities are caused by exposure to a potent neurotoxin called brevetoxin which is produced naturally by the marine algae Karenia brevis. (Wikipedia)

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

One Comment

  1. was out on the water, at stump pass the water had thousands of dead fish, and the smell was terrible. So I went offshore swam down in the water and it was even worse, dont go out boating till its gone, believe me. I am on the water 4 times a week and this is really bad.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *