Note-after every red river or blood tide of this kind there has been a natural disaster Of increasing magnitude. The infamous Florida “red tide” occurs almost annually along portions of the state’s Gulf Coast, causing beach and shellfish closures and negatively impacting Florida’s tourism industry. Just one harmful algal bloom event can impose millions of dollars in losses upon local coastal communities. Image courtesy of P. Schmidt, Charlotte (FL) Sun
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A deadly algae bloom is causing a record number of manatee deaths in Florida, state biologists said.
A red tide bloom has been killing ten or more manatees a day and the deadly algae bloom shows no sign of letting up any time soon, the Tampa Bay Times reported on Friday.
“This is probably going to be the worst die-off in history,” said Martine DeWit, a veterinarian who oversees the state’s marine mammal pathology laboratory
.
The record for manatees killed by red tide was set in 1996 with 151 killed by a toxin in the algae bloom. As of Friday, the number killed this year hit 149, and the number could surpass the current record by the end of the weekend.
DeWit said the toxins in the bloom likely settled onto the sea grass that manatee eat, causing them to become paralyzed and eventually drown. The grass beds will also likely retain their poisonous coating for another two months.
Read more at - http://countdowntozerotime.org/2013/03/11/new-blood-red-tide-florida-record-number-of-manatee-deaths/
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A deadly algae bloom is causing a record number of manatee deaths in Florida, state biologists said.
A red tide bloom has been killing ten or more manatees a day and the deadly algae bloom shows no sign of letting up any time soon, the Tampa Bay Times reported on Friday.
‘This is probably going to be the worst die-off in history.’- Martine DeWit, a veterinarian who oversees a marine mammal pathology laboratory
.
The record for manatees killed by red tide was set in 1996 with 151 killed by a toxin in the algae bloom. As of Friday, the number killed this year hit 149, and the number could surpass the current record by the end of the weekend.
DeWit said the toxins in the bloom likely settled onto the sea grass that manatee eat, causing them to become paralyzed and eventually drown. The grass beds will also likely retain their poisonous coating for another two months.
Read more at - http://countdowntozerotime.org/2013/03/11/new-blood-red-tide-florida-record-number-of-manatee-deaths/
