Red Tide Takes Over Florida’s Beaches Causing A Catastrophe

Daniel R
Daniel R
Aug 31, 2018 · 6 min read

Daniel Rodriguez

Professor Perkins

Composition

August 31, 2018

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s latest map showing outbreak of red tide.

This 2018 has been very deadly for Florida. This is due to the poisonous algae that bloomed and now covers almost all the southwest coast. This alga, called “Red Tide”, has caused Florida’s marine life to take a lethal blow. The Red Tide has been causing many problems since it started, but there is little action. We must do everything we can to stop the spread of this poisonous menace that is destroying our beaches.

Images from video by Cody Johnson shows Casey Key in June 2018 before red tide, left, and after the toxic algae bloom on Aug. 5, 2018. [Provided by Cody Johnson]

What is causing all of this is the bloom of an organism present in the water. “Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, produces brevetoxin, toxins harmful to fish, marine mammals and birds” (“Effects of Florida’s Red Tide” 1). However, not only is it dangerous for animals, humans can be affected by it as well. “People are being warned off beaches in Florida, as the red tide is known to cause respiratory distress…” (Doyle 19). This means that people are not safe from the Red Tide just because it happens in the after. As it expands, it will keep harming animals and humans alike. “It has affected more than 100 miles of beaches” (Havens 1). Without any means of stopping, it will continue to take over more beaches damaging them until they are irreparable.

People Ready workers, from left, Sal Abbracciamento and Drew Saxon get ready to pick up a dead Loggerhead turtle in Sanibel on Aug. 6. [GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST]
Manatee Rescued From Red Tide (IBTimes UK)

With the beaches being infected, so are its inhabitants. “Stranding of live and dead sea turtles increases during K. brevis blooms” (“Effects of Florida’s Red Tide” 4). This correlates that, when there is red tide more sea turtles are found stranded. The threatened manatees have their fair share of deaths as well. “At least 273 manatees were killed by an outbreak of red tide” (Maim 2). Very few have been lucky enough to have been detected soon and taken to an animal hospital. The ones that were not so lucky died, just like all the other affected sea creatures.

Biologists perform a necropsy on a whale shark that died in Florida waters. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
Birds Getting Killed Because Of Red Tide (ABC Action News)

It was not too long until even a whale shark was impacted. Founded dead floating, biologists where surprised when a 26 feet whale shark was infected by the red tide toxin. “This is the first time the commission has had an opportunity to sample whale shark tissue for this toxin” (Furby 3). This means that normally these creatures are not supposed to be near the toxic algae. It is uncommon for sharks to be affected by the red tide because of their senses. “Sharks have taste buds in their throats and mouths as well as a very good sense of smell, which should help them to avoid feeding in toxic areas, Hueter said” (Furby 8). Which is why it was shocking for many biologists when they discovered traces of brevetoxin in the shark. Non-marine animals are also being affected by the red tide. “Mass die-offs of coastal seabirds and shorebirds are common…birds consume fish and crustaceans contaminated with toxins” (“Effects of Florida’s Red Tide” 5). After the animals get infected they will meet the same fate as the fish they ate. This shows that the red ride not only targets aquatic animals but also other animals that feed on the infected.

Red Tide Affecting Tourism and Businesses (FOX 4 Now)
Thousands Of Dead Fish Washed Off At the Beach (SWNS)

This tide has made Florida, commonly known for its beautiful beaches, nowhere near beautiful. With dead fish along the sand and the obnoxious odor, you cannot even enjoy a nice walk let alone get into the water. It has impacted much of Florida’s tourism, not to mention its public perception. “Restaurants and other businesses are suffering losses from red tide…which have killed millions of fish and impacted public perception of the region.” (Blank 1). More and more people are now avoiding the beaches because of the horrible smell of dead fish. The smell as also caused businesses to close early, and with no customers they will not be getting any profit.

Something must be done about it already. It’s been going on for too long, and now we are paying for it. Much of Florida’s reputation of beautiful beaches is dropping because of this issue. All the marine life is being killed while we do nothing. We must put a stop to this red tide while we still can, or we will just have beaches with no life.


Narrative

This summer I was walking by the beach on a Saturday. Then I noticed a horrendous smell. As I kept walking I saw the beach with thousands of dead fish washed up against the sand. I quickly looked up what was going on and then learned about the red tide and about what it was doing. I decided to do this essay talking about all the problems that the red tide was causing to hopefully get people more aware of how big this issue really is. Not to mention it was ruining many beaches in the southwest coast. In my essay, I am applying pathos and logos. I use pathos showing pictures that have dead animals who were killed by the toxin. I provided pictures of the dead Loggerhead turtles that have been killed by the red tide. This causes a big problem for this species since they are endangered. Other animals like manatees and birds, not to mention the strange case with the whale shark, have also been killed by the brevetoxin that the algae produce. The toxin killing all these poor animals will tap into people’s emotional perspective since it shows how helpless they are against it. I also tried to show that it is not just marine life this is affecting. The red tide can cause problems for people as well. Since tourism is being impacted, it means that the restaurants and hotels will not be getting a lot of sales. Same being said for other businesses that need tourism to survive. Here I am using logos since it is obvious that people would want sales in their business. I also use it by saying how unpleasant the beach is. The thousands of dead fish in the beach accompanied by the disgusting odor is something no one would want to experience. I am trying to get people to be aware of what is going on here, and not just turn around and ignore it. Although there are some people who have helped clean some of the dead fish off the beaches, we must still do something to completely erase the red tide. If we do not, this outbreak will keep occurring, until it gets to an uncontrollable point.


Work Cited

“Effects of Florida’s Red Tide on Marine Animals.” Facts About Horseshoe Crabs, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2013, myfwc.com/research/redtide/general/marine-animals/.

Blank, Christine. “Florida Fish, Tourism Losses Grow from Red Tide.” Seafoodsource.com, 20 Aug. 2018, www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/florida-fish-tourism-losses-grow-from-red-tide.

Doyle, Liam. “Florida News: Toxic Red Tide Hits Florida Coast — Blue-Green Algae ‘Making People Sick’.” Express.co.uk, Express.co.uk, 6 Aug. 2018, www.express.co.uk/news/world/999630/florida-news-blue-green-algae-toxic-red-tide-endangered-species-animals-bacteria-health-up.

Furby, Kate. “A Red Tide Ravaging Florida May Have Killed a Whale Shark for the First Known Time.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Aug. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/08/03/a-red-tide-ravaging-florida-may-have-killed-a-whale-shark-for-the-first-known-time/?utm_term=.6badf24a532a.

Havens, Karl. “What Is Causing Florida’s Algae Crisis? 5 Questions Answered.” The Conversation, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2018, theconversation.com/what-is-causing-floridas-algae-crisis-5-questions-answered-101305.

Serrano, Carlos. “Red Tide: Florida Powerless to Stem Killer Algae Bloom.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Aug. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45288774.

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