Toxic ‘red tide’ algae bloom is killing Florida wildlife and menacing tourism
With its long, white, sandy beaches, Sanibel Island off the coast of south-western Florida is usually a perfect place for families to enjoy these last days of summer.
This year, however, 267 tons of marine life, including thousands of small fish, 72 Goliath groupers, and even a 21-ft whale shark have washed up on the beach since July – thanks to a a disastrous “red tide” of toxic algae.
The algae, called Karenia brevis, began in November and has affected beaches along about 150 miles of Florida’s Gulf Coast from Anna Maria Island to Naples. In Sarasota, two hours north of Sanibel, wildlife scientists recovered nine dead bottlenose dolphins last week.
“We had groupers probably four feet and five feet up here, and all kinds of fish [wash up],” said Andrew Stone, who was taking a sunset walk on Sanibel’s Lighthouse beach with his wife, Joyce Hillman. The couple comes here from Bonita Springs every year.
Posted by admin
on Aug 14 2018. Filed under News at Now, News From Roots, Wildlife.
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