by John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper
As of this writing, the ongoing red tide starting last October is now nearly a year in effect. Red tide blooms unfortunately have increased in severity the past several months. Cell density concentrations of the red tide alga, Karenia brevis of greater than 100,000 cells per liter can cause fish mortality. Concentrations as low as 5,000 cells per liter can cause closure of shellfish harvesting. During this past August and September concentrations of 10-40 million cells per liter have been documented in some areas. The result has been perhaps one of the most virulent blooms in recorded history. Millions of dead fish have been reported and even the bottom fauna of eels, crabs and an assortment of species have been hit hard by the red tide toxin. However, the mass mortality of this seemingly continuous bloom has also killed hundreds of sea turtles, some of which died while attempting to lay eggs along the beaches along with manatees and dolphins across more than a hundred miles of coastline from Collier to Manatee Counties. Scientists are now acknowledging that red tide events can be extended and made more severe by river discharges and overland runoff by contributing additional nutrients that Karenia thrive on. The issues of land based nutrient pollution and the nexus to red tide need to be researched further but we know that nutrient reductions have to happen soon. Please support candidates for office that have clean water as a high priority in their outlook for leadership. Also, please follow FWC guidelines for catch and release of important recreational species enabling the fishery and habitat to recover.