Skip to main content

Tag: environment

Red tide assistance available for businesses

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

Loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network are available to businesses whose customers are staying away because of red tide.

The red tide bloom that continues to persist in the Gulf of Mexico began in September 2017 in Southwest Florida, reaching Anna Maria Island on Aug. 3. Since then, dead fish and the respiratory irritation caused when the algae’s neurotoxin is dispersed in the air have kept the Island’s usual crowds away from restaurants and retail stores.

SBA loan office opens Sept. 7 in Holmes Beach

The Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center opens Friday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. to assist such businesses affected by red tide.

The center is at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. After Sept. 7, hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointments are necessary.

SBA representatives will provide information about disaster loans and assist business owners in completing loan assistance applications. Manatee County’s economic development team and local Chamber of Commerce partners also will provide information and resources to assist businesses in documenting financial losses.

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is available to small business owners in designated disaster areas, including Manatee County, who experienced physical or economic damage because of red tide.

Small business owners can qualify for between $1,000 and $50,000 in interest-free loans, payable after 180 days. If paid late, an 18 percent interest rate applies.

The program is not designed to be the primary source of assistance to affected small businesses; program eligibility is linked to the pursuit of other monies, such as the proceeds of insurance claims or other loans, other financial assistance the borrower receives after receipt of the loan or proceeds from the revived business.

Applications will be accepted from for-profit, privately-held small businesses that have maintained an office in Florida since at least Aug. 13, 2018, employ between two and 100 employees and have suffered physical damage and/or economic injury because of red tide.

Borrowers will be required to sign agreements that proceeds of the loans will be used only for maintaining or restarting the businesses in the designated area. Use of proceeds to pay off debts already incurred for qualifying business maintenance or restart purposes may be authorized on a case-by-case basis.

Applications will be accepted through Oct. 12, contingent on availability of funds.

For more information, visit SBA or call 800-659-2955.

For more information, visit The Sun’s Red Tide Resources.

Related coverage

Red tide lessens

A scuba diver’s view of red tide

Businesses working hard to offset red tide

‘We’re still open’

Red tide ‘flu’ nothing to sneeze at

Red tide lingers

Nets to Neighbors next phase of red tide cleanup

Red tides, lost summers

Red tide FAQs

TDC votes to recommend more money for red tide cleanup

Minnie’s crew sings about red tide blues

Restaurateurs combat red tide

Mote working on ozone solution to red tide

County funding shellfish to fight red tide

Manatee County works to clean impacts from red tide

Governor declares state of emergency due to red tide

Red tide bloom can affect your health

FWC: Red tide increasing

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Red tide.

Red tide is increasing again in the Gulf of Mexico off Anna Maria Island, according to today’s report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The Sept. 7 report shows that red tide levels are from 5 percent to 25 percent higher than last week.

Low concentrations of red tide were found in water samples taken at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria. Medium concentrations were found in water at Longboat Pass and at Cortez Beach, both in Bradenton Beach, and background concentrations were found at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.

Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Low levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels can cause all of the above, plus water discoloration.

Respiratory irritation was reported from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 at Coquina Beach (Bradenton Beach) and from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 and again on Sept. 4 at Manatee Beach (Holmes Beach).

The last reported fish kill in Manatee County was on Aug. 31 in Bradenton Beach.

Persistent surface currents before, during and after the passage of Tropical Storm Gordon likely played a role in transporting Karenia brevis red tide cells to the northwest, according to FWC.

Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases.

Call 866-300-9399 in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions. Callers outside of Florida, call 727-552-2448.

Red tide sunset

Red tide lessens

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Red tide.

Red tide is lessening off Anna Maria Island, according to today’s report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD, emphysema or other respiratory diseases.

The report shows medium levels of red tide at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, low levels at Longboat Pass in Bradenton Beach and none at the Palma Sola Bay bridge, down from high levels at all three locations as of the FWC’s Wednesday, Aug. 29 report.

The Aug. 31 report also shows that red tide levels dropped by as much as 25 percent in the past week, Aug. 25-31, compared to the previous week of Aug. 18-24.

Red tide was detected in Manatee County in background to medium concentrations, an improvement from the previous report which noted high concentrations of the marine algae in Gulf waters.

The report notes that respiratory irritation was reported from Aug. 23-30 at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach. The last reported fish kill was horseshoe crab and blue crab on Aug. 28 at Longboat Pass in Bradenton Beach.

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties, including Manatee County, predict northwestern movement of surface waters and southeastern movement of subsurface waters over the next three days.

For more information, visit The Sun’s Red Tide Resources.

Related coverage

‘We’re still open’

Red tide ‘flu’ nothing to sneeze at

Red tide lingers

Nets to Neighbors next phase of red tide cleanup

Red tides, lost summers

Red tide FAQs

TDC votes to recommend more money for red tide cleanup

Minnie’s crew sings about red tide blues

Restaurateurs combat red tide

Mote working on ozone solution to red tide

County funding shellfish to fight red tide

Manatee County works to clean impacts from red tide

Governor declares state of emergency due to red tide

Red tide bloom can affect your health

red tide beach

Red tide lingers

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Uncategorized.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Today’s red tide update from Manatee County indicates improving conditions on some Anna Maria Island beaches, but red tide levels remain high in the water at both ends of the Island, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Red tide levels remain high at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, the Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach and the Palma Sola Bay Bridge, according to Wednesday’s report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Red tide was present in very low to high concentrations in 11 water samples collected from Manatee County. Levels ranged from 5-25 percent higher in Manatee County from Aug. 18-24 compared to the previous week, according to the FWC.

Respiratory irritation was reported from Aug. 16-23 at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach, and fish kills continue.

Aerial surveys from Pinellas to northern Charlotte counties, including Manatee County, also indicate the presence of offshore blooms of the marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium, which is not harmful to people.

According to today’s Manatee County beach update:

  • Beaches are open
  • Coquina Bayside, Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach north to Bean Point are clean
  • Bayfront Park has minor seaweed
  • Coquina North and South Boat Ramps are clean
  • Crews are working to rake the beaches as needed
  • Red tide signs are posted at affected beaches and will remain until the red tide bloom is over.

Manatee County beach rake operator Mark Taylor said the beaches today are “Much better. The water still doesn’t look right because that stuff is just offshore.”

As for the type of dead marine life on the beach Thursday morning, Taylor said, “Just a few catfish, horseshoe crabs, queen crabs, etc. But it’s very light. The east wind is definitely our friend for now.”

RTU AM Beach
This jogger enjoyed a run on a clean beach in Anna Maria this morning. – Chantelle Lewin | Sun

After taking a walk on the beach in Anna Maria this morning, Sun Advertising Director Chantelle Lewin said that area of beach was clear.

“All’s good. Looks like an awesome weekend,” Lewin said.

As has been the case since the red tide reached Anna Maria Island on Aug. 3, the impacts of red tide vary from day to day and location to location.

On Thursday morning, Bradenton Beach resident Steve Schewe said, “It smells in Bradenton Beach and it stinks on Longboat Key.”

Residential canals

On Wednesday, the residential canal at 21st Place North contained only a few dead and floating fish, but a block away the end of the residential canal at 20th Place North was filled with dead fish and horseshoe crabs. One of the floating fish was filled with maggots and flies were active on several others.

RTU BB Canal II
This residential canal on 20th Place North in Bradenton Beach remains filled with dead marine life and seagrass. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On the mainland, the Coral Shores canals along Cortez Road that looked horrific two weeks ago had only a handful of floating fish still remaining Wednesday afternoon.

Last week, the Coral Shores canals were among those cleaned by APTIM – the Boca Raton firm contracted by Manatee County at a cost of $140,000 for one week’s worth of cleanup services. APTIM’s services were discontinued at the conclusion of the workday on Aug. 24.

RTU Coral Shores Canal
On Wednesday, this Coral Shores canal looked much better than it did two weeks ago. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The canals at the nearby Mt. Vernon community were also free of any large masses of dead fish on Wednesday, but a couple of dead horseshoe crabs were spotted floating in one of the canals.

On Monday, the county announced that it was transitioning to a voluntary “Nets to Neighbors” maintenance and light cleanup program that includes nets, buckets and dumpsters provided by the county in certain areas. The Coral Shores dumpster contained no dead fish or red tide debris as of Wednesday afternoon.

RTU Coral Shores Dumpster
On Wednesday, this dumpster in the Coral Shores neighborhood contained no dead fish. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Local fishermen

After being contracted by the city of Anna Maria for a second time, Cortez fishermen Nathan Meschelle, Tanner Pelkey, Matt Smith and Michael Dolan spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday down at the former and future site of the Anna Maria City Pier cleaning seagrass and a very few number of dead fish off the beach.

Pelkey said the presence of seagrass is a normal occurrence. Meschelle said he thinks the red tide is dissipating and he hopes to return to fishing as soon as possible. Over the past weekend, Meschelle was contracted to do some canal cleanup for the Wild Oak Bay community on Cortez Road.

“That was some pretty nasty stuff down there,” Meschelle said. “We cleaned over 1,000 square yards of carnage that had drifted in.”

RTU Cortez Fishermen
These Cortez fishermen spent three days cleaning a stretch of city beach in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

 – Cindy Lane contributed to this report.

For more information, visit The Sun’s Red Tide Resources.

Related coverage

Red tide ‘flu’ nothing to sneeze at

Nets to Neighbors next phase of red tide cleanup

Red tides, lost summers

Red tide FAQs

TDC votes to recommend more money for red tide cleanup

Minnie’s crew sings about red tide blues

Restaurateurs combat red tide

Mote working on ozone solution to red tide

County funding shellfish to fight red tide

Manatee County works to clean impacts from red tide

Governor declares state of emergency due to red tide

Red tide bloom can affect your health

Red tide ‘flu’ nothing to sneeze at

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Red tide.

Sore throats, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, headache, eye irritation, rashes – people on Anna Maria Island with some of these symptoms are complaining they have the “red tide flu.”

There’s no such thing, according to Brad Dalton, deputy press secretary for the Florida Department of Health.

“To our knowledge there are no medical conditions referred to as the ‘red tide flu,’ ” he said.

But a growing body of scientific research proves that red tide has human health effects, and not just on people with respiratory problems.

Studies show that red tide affects healthy lifeguards, increases emergency room admissions, can have lasting effects on some people for days after they leave the beach, and affects people up to four miles inland. One study also indicates a possible antidote for red tide.

The culprit: Red tide toxin

The algae known as Karenia brevis, which began blooming in overabundance in the Gulf of Mexico and inland waters in Collier County last October, kills fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and shorebirds and makes shellfish unfit for consumption. It drifted north to Anna Maria Island on Aug. 3, and people have been suffering symptoms here ever since.

The symptoms are triggered by a neurotoxin, called brevetoxin, that is stirred up by wave action and winds. When it becomes airborne, particularly blowing towards land, it can cause watery eyes, tickly throats and coughing, especially in people with respiratory issues such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, said Tom Larkin, environmental health director for the Manatee County Health Department.

“The aerosolized product can cause asthma attacks to flare,” he said. “If you go to the beach and experience those symptoms, leave and go to another beach, because it can be at one beach and not another. If you live here, stay inside air conditioning and limit your outside exposure,” he said, adding that an “N-95” mask, available at hardware stores, can help filter out red tide.

Studies confirm that using a surgical mask decreases inhalation of brevetoxin by up to 45 percent.

But inhaling the brevetoxin is not the only way you can be exposed to red tide, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Symptoms can follow ingesting red tide water by swallowing or even by breathing in tiny water particles in the air, eating contaminated shellfish or through skin contact while swimming or wading.

“Marine Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) can cause a variety of illnesses in people,” both immediate and recurring, according to the CDC.

Red tide antidote

A promising recent development is a study on sheep that has identified brevenal, an antidote to brevetoxin, in Karenia brevis itself. Experiments showed that brevenal helps clear the lungs of mucus produced by inhaling red tide. Researchers noted in “Pathophysiologic Airway Responses to Inhaled Red Tide Brevetoxin in Allergic Sheep” that it is the first documented case of a toxin-producing organism also producing its own antidote.

Red tide affects people inland

A study, “Inland Transport of Aerosolized Florida Red Tide Toxins,” shows that red tide can travel four miles inland from a red tide-affected beach. In addition, “People may still be exposed environmentally to the aerosolized brevetoxins even after they leave the beach,” according to the study. “Indeed, if people remain on a barrier island where no point is greater than 1.6 km (about 1 mile) from a coast, they will most likely be continuing their exposure in any outdoor setting and from all directions if the inland waters also contain K. brevis blooms.”

Inland waters including the Manatee River, Palma Sola Bay and Sarasota Bay all have shown evidence of red tide this month.

“Currently, the public health message in communities with onshore Karenia blooms has only recommended leaving the beach area to avoid aerosol exposure; this message needs to be re-evaluated based on these new findings to take into account the possibility of inland environmental exposure to brevetoxins, particularly for persons with underlying lung diseases such as asthma,” the study concluded.

Red tide worse for people with asthma

People with asthma experience “objectively measurable adverse changes in lung function from exposure to aerosolized Florida red tide toxins,” particularly among those requiring regular therapy with asthma medications, according to the study, “Aerosolized Red-Tide Toxins (Brevetoxins) and Asthma.”

The study “Florida Red Tide Toxins (Brevetoxins) and Longitudinal Respiratory Effects in Asthmatics” found that only one hour of exposure to Florida red tide aerosols can cause increased symptoms and decreased respiratory function lasting for at least several days after exposure.

“We recommend persons with underlying respiratory disease (and their healthcare providers, emergency medical facilities and public health officials) be aware of the onshore activity of Florida red tide blooms, and avoid visiting coastal areas with strong onshore winds during onshore blooms. This appears to be particularly important for poorly controlled asthmatics, and those with relatively little regular brevetoxin exposure (for example, those who live inland or visitors).”

ER visits up during red tide

Emergency room admissions for respiratory problems increases with red tide, according to a study called “Environmental Exposures to Florida Ted Tides,” which noted “a significant increase in the rates of respiratory disease admissions to an ER for coastal residents during a year when there was a red tide bloom over several months compared to respiratory disease admissions during no red tide.”

Red tide affects healthy people

Studies show that red tide also affects people without underlying respiratory problems.

In one study, “Occupational Exposure to Aerosolized Brevetoxins during Florida Red Tide Events: Effects on a Healthy Worker Population,” 28 healthy Florida lifeguards exposed to red tide toxins at work reported airway irritation including eye irritation, nasal congestion, cough and headaches.

Island lifeguards are coping with red tide with masks and air-conditioned lifeguard stands, Manatee County Marine Rescue Chief Joe Westerman said. The beach flag system does not specifically address red tide, but if it is bad enough that swimming is not advisable, beaches will be closed with a double red flag, as they have been a few days this month, he said.

Nets to neighbors

‘Nets to Neighbors’ next phase of red tide cleanup

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

BRADENTON – After one week, Manatee County has ended its contracted canal and waterway cleanup efforts with APTIM and is transitioning to a voluntary “Nets to Neighbors” cleanup and maintenance campaign.

The cleanup services provided by APTIM were costing the county approximately $25,000 per day.

This announcement was made a county press conference on Monday afternoon.

“As of today, the contractor operations ended and the purpose of today’s meeting it to announce the county’s plans moving forward to a neighborhood and volunteer-based solution,” Commissioner Steve Jonsson said, noting that nearly 241 tons of red tide debris had been removed from county parks, beaches and canals.

“We’re transitioning to a program where we will provide nets and buckets to the neighborhood sites that have dumpsters. You and your neighbors can assist by picking up residual fish,” County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said.

Hunzeker said 50 dumpsters have been or will be placed countywide as part of the red tide cleanup and maintenance efforts. Parks and Grounds Operations Manager Carmine DeMilio said most of the red tide debris dumpsters would be emptied daily and some would be emptied upon request.

Hunzeker was asked what happens if the recently-cleaned canals become filled with dead fish again.

“If that happens we’ll be prepared to deal with it. We’ve been prepared to deal with everything that’s come our way so far,” he replied.

When asked if a cleanup contract could be initiated again, Hunzeker said, “Perhaps.”

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the County Commission adopted a budget amendment that allocated $750,000 in county funds for red tide cleanup. The commission also authorized staff to apply for a $750,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

On Monday, Hunzeker said the grant application was made and the county has received a funding commitment but no grant money was received yet.

A press release issued after the press conference stated nets and buckets were taken to the Coral Shores, Wild Oak Bay and Trailer Estates neighborhoods and more would be available at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center on Wednesday.

Post-conference revelations

Not everyone is satisfied with APTIM’s efforts.

On Monday afternoon, Coral Shores resident Lindy Gallagher said, “They came through my canal one time and we never saw them again.”

When asked if she was satisfied, Gallagher said, “Oh, hell no.”

It appears that APTIM was fired.

When contacted, Jonsson said he spoke with other Coral Shores residents who were pleased with the efforts and he was not given the impression that APTIM was fired.

But a subsequent inquiry to the county produced email exchanges that occurred Saturday and began with County Commission Executive Assistant Sheri Smith emailing DeMilio about the contractor’s Friday evening update report.

“The response crew was instructed that recovery activities were going to end at the close of the day and at 4 p.m. the crews started to demobilize,” that report said.

“Did the contractor quit? What am I supposed to tell these people when they call and ask when their canal is going to be cleaned?” Smith asked DeMilio.

“They were let go and we are looking at different strategies, Damon Moore can explain further,” DeMilio responded, noting the county strategy would be readdressed Monday morning.

Moore, the county’s Environmental Program Manager, sent Smith an email that said, “By midday Friday they had worked through the existing large contiguous masses mostly within the areas of Coral Shores, Bowlees Creek and Trailer Estates. With the lack of accessible floating masses and fish rotting to the extent that they could not effectively be removed via the nets, I made the decision that this waterside approach was no longer an effective or wise use of funds at over $25k per day.”

When contacted Monday afternoon, County Information Outreach Manager Nick Azzara said, “From the start of the contractor effort we tried to manage expectations and let residents know that not every fish would be captured. If residents weren’t satisfied with the contractor cleanup, and if they’re not interested in the nets campaign, they’re welcome to call one of the local fishermen searching for work,” he said.

The county website contains a list of local fishermen and others who can be contracted for cleanup services.

Red tide sign

Red tide update

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Red tide.

MANATEE COUNTY – Red tide continues to impact Anna Maria Island beaches and Manatee County waterways.

In water samples tested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as of Friday, Aug. 24, red tide counts were:

  • High at Rod and Reel Pier
  • High at Palma Sola Bay bridge
  • High at Longboat Pass Boat ramp

Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County from Aug. 16-23 at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach. During that week, Manatee County waters showed minimal change in red tide cell concentrations from the previous week.

Red tide FAQs

What is red tide?

A red tide is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plantlike organism). In the Gulf of Mexico, it is Karenia brevis, often abbreviated as K. brevis. At high concentrations, the organisms may discolor the water, sometimes red, light or dark green, brown or the water may appear clear.

What causes red tide?

A red tide bloom develops when biology (the organisms), chemistry (natural or man-made nutrients for growth) and physics (tides, winds, currents) work to produce the algal bloom. No one factor causes the development of a red tide bloom.

Where can I check the status of red tide at my local beach?

Mote Marine Laboratory

Are red tides new?

No. Red tides were documented in the Gulf of Mexico as far back as the 1700s and along Florida’s Gulf Coast since the 1840s. While red tides and other algal blooms occur worldwide, K. brevis is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico but has been found on the east coast of Florida and off the coast of North Carolina.

How long does a red tide last?

Red tide blooms can last days, weeks or months, and can also change daily due to wind conditions and ocean currents.

Is it safe to swim in water affected by red tide?

While people swim in red tide, some individuals may experience skin irritation and burning eyes. If your skin is easily irritated, avoid red tide water. If you experience irritation, get out of the ocean and thoroughly wash off with fresh water.

Can red tide affect me when I am not on the beach?

People in coastal areas near the shoreline may experience varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation. When a person leaves an area with red tide, symptoms usually go away. If symptoms persist, please seek medical attention.

Are there people who are more sensitive to the toxins caused by red tide?

People with respiratory problems (like asthma, emphysema or bronchitis) should avoid red tide areas, especially when winds are blowing on shore. If you go to the beach and have one of these conditions, you should be very cautious. If you have symptoms, leave the beach and seek air conditioning (A/C). If symptoms persist, please seek medical attention.

What can I do to lessen the effects of red tide?

People usually get relief from respiratory symptoms by being in air-conditioned spaces. This is also true when driving: keep your car windows up and the A/C or heat on. For people without asthma or any other chronic respiratory problems, over-the-counter antihistamines may relieve symptoms. People with chronic lung ailments should be especially vigilant about taking prescribed medications daily. Always seek medical care if your symptoms worsen.

Can red tide affect pets?

Just like people, pets may be affected by red tide. If you live close to the beach, consider bringing outdoor pets inside during a bloom to prevent respiratory irritation. If you are at the beach with your pets, do not allow them to play with dead fish or foam that may accumulate on the beach during or after a red tide. If your pet swims in the red tide, wash them off with fresh water as soon as possible.

Is seafood in the area safe to eat?

Clams and oysters (mollusks) can contain red tide toxins that cause Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. Check local harvesting status before collecting at FreshFromFlorida.com. Finfish caught live and healthy can be eaten if filleted and rinsed thoroughly. Edible meat of crabs, shrimp and lobsters (shellfish) can be eaten (do not eat the tomalley—the green digestive gland—of shellfish). Do not eat distressed or animals found dead under any circumstances.

Source: Florida Department of Health

Aerial surveys from Pinellas to Charlotte counties, including Manatee, also indicated the presence of offshore blooms of the marine cyanobacterium, Trichodesmium, which is not dangerous to humans or animals.

According to Manatee County’s Friday, Aug. 24 red tide update, the county continues to rake the beaches along the Gulf coast of Anna Maria Island, including Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, to clean the beaches of fish and other sea life affected by the recent arrival of red tide. 

  • Beaches are open.
  • Coquina Bayside, Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach north to Bean Point are moderate/heavy with fish.
  • Bayfront Park has moderate fish.
  • Coquina North and South Boat Ramps have moderate/heavy fish.
  • Crews are currently running beach rakes up from Coquina Pass and down from Bean Point.
  • Air quality is moderate with occasional coughing and irritation. Water color is tan/brown in some areas and brownish/reddish in others.
  • The county has contracted with a vendor to clean local waterways, beginning with the most affected areas this week.
  • Red Tide signs are posted at affected beaches and will remain until the red tide bloom is over.

“Red tide blooms can last days, weeks, or months and can change daily due to wind conditions and water currents,” according to the county.

When contacted Friday afternoon, county surf rake operator Mark Taylor said, “The water is still reddish, brown and ugly looking. We’re still getting about the same level of (dead) fish each day as well. The occasional tarpon keeps coming up each day also.

“We are expecting a wind change over the weekend, coming more out of the east. Hopefully, it will push some of this back offshore,” Taylor said.

Sarasota County

According to the Sarasota County website, “All beaches are open, but there is a ‘No Swim’ advisory for four area beaches.”

Sarasota County Health Department officials have issued a red tide advisory for several Sarasota County beaches.

“Several beaches have been affected by red tide and high levels of enteric bacteria. ‘NO SWIM’ Advisory for Longboat Key, Lido Casino, Brohard, and Venice Fishing Pier,” the health department website says.

Want to help?

Manatee County is hiring temporary workers to help clean beaches during the red tide bloom for $12.50 an hour. Call Faraja at Ad-VANCE Talent Solutions for more information at 941-739-8883.

For daily red tide conditions updated at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. visit visitbeaches.org.

Manatee County is also operating a Red Tide Hotline at 941-749-3547 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days week.

Canal cleanup services

Manatee County has contracted a vendor to clean local waterways, including those on and around Anna Maria Island.

“Due to the small maneuvering space in the canals, the cleaning must be done with nets and boats by hand. Homeowners and associations may want to continue to work with local fisherman for a more thorough cleaning of any remaining fish,” the county website says. Included at the county website is a list of local fishermen and others who’ve offered to assist with cleaning. Manatee County has not vetted these services. This list is not an endorsement of these businesses.

Contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to report fish or marine life impacted by red tide.

 

– Cindy Lane contributed to this report

 

For more information, visit The Sun’s Red Tide Resources page.

Paul Barricklow

Mote working on ozone solution to red tide

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors, Red tide.

CITY ISLAND – There may be a breath of fresh air on the red tide-stained horizon.

Mote Marine Laboratory is testing ozone as a way to kill red tide algae and remove the toxins it produces from seawater.

Red tide, an algae bloom caused by the microscopic organism Karenia brevis, can cause respiratory irritation, especially in people with asthma or COPD, and can kill fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and shorebirds.

Red tide reached Anna Maria Island shores on Aug. 3, drifting north from Southwest Florida, where it has persisted since November 2017. The bloom affects six counties, from Collier north to Pinellas, including Manatee.

Aimed at restoring canals, like those in Coral Shores recently inundated with fish killed by red tide, the method pumps red tide water into an ozone conductor, where the ozone kills the red tide and re-oxygenates the water without releasing ozone into the environment, according to Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Richard Pierce.

Mote already uses a similar patented method to filter seawater from the Gulf pumped into Mote’s marine mammal and sea turtle hospital tanks and its aquarium.

Mote tested ozone in June in a 25,000-gallon saltwater pool. The results showed that, with one ozone system processing 150 gallons of water per minute, the red tide algae cells in the pool were wiped out rapidly and their toxins cleared in a day. Water quality was monitored, showing no ozone released, and other water chemistry changes returned to normal within a day.

The system is now being tested in a Boca Grande canal filled with dead fish, with two ozone systems working together to process 300 gallons of water per minute to filter out red tide algae cells and toxins. Water quality is being monitored for nutrients, temperature, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity, and suitability for sensitive marine invertebrate animals like shrimp.

While clay, copper, herbicides and other substances proven to kill red tide also kill marine life, ozone treatment does not, according to Mote.

The ozone method is not intended for large bodies of water, like the Gulf of Mexico, and is still in the research stage, according to Mote.

Related coverage

Red tide resources

Green turtle swimming free after hospital stay

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA – Shoshi, a juvenile green sea turtle, is swimming free in Tampa Bay after a successful rehabilitation and release Thursday morning, May 10 at Bayfront Park.

A fisherman found the turtle in March floating in yellow sludge 15 miles west of Bean Point, the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, according to Mote Marine Laboratory, which rehabilitated the turtle.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lWoNDPoVcU[/embedyt]

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteer Dave Ault brought the turtle to Mote, naming her after his puppy, Shoshi.

Mote Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital staff discovered that Shoshi’s skin was covered in an unidentified orange material, and the plates on its shell were coming off. The turtle received antibiotic eye drops, was given dextrose intravenously, and received subcutaneous fluids until it fully recovered.

Green turtles rarely nest on Anna Maria Island; loggerheads are, by far, the more common local species. Both are on the federal threatened species list.

Turtle season began May 1. No turtles had nested on the Island as of Shoshi’s release date, but one turtle attempted to nest in a “false crawl” in Bradenton Beach earlier that morning, returning to sea without laying eggs, according to Turtle Watch.

If you see a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale in Sarasota or Manatee county waters, please call Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at 941-988-0212.

If you see a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale outside of Sarasota and Manatee counties, or a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Mote Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital staff bring a green sea turtle to Bayfront Park for release on Thursday, May 10. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Mote Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital staff bring a green sea turtle to Bayfront Park for release on Thursday, May 10. - Cindy Lane | Sun

A juvenile green sea turtle, a threatened species, was released off Anna Maria on Thursday, May 10. - Cindy Lane | Sun

A juvenile green sea turtle, a threatened species, was released off Anna Maria on Thursday, May 10. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Shoshi is ready to go. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Shoshi is ready to go. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Going...

Going...

... going...

... going...

... gone. - Cindy Lane | Sun

... gone. - Cindy Lane | Sun

manatee decal

Manatee numbers down from 2017

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Manatees, Outdoors.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) counted 6,131 manatees in Florida waters in surveys this winter, down 489 from the record 6,620 manatees counted last year.

From the air, observers counted 3,731 manatees on the east coast and 2,400 on the west coast.

From January to April this year, 307 of the marine mammals died in state waters, including seven in Manatee County, according to the FWC.

In all of 2017, 538 manatees died in Florida, 20 of them in Manatee County.

The one-day surveys that began in 1991 have expanded in recent years to three or four days, and are conducted annually in cold weather when manatees are clustered in warm-water sites, making them easier to find, according to the FWC. The surveys cover all the known wintering habitats of manatees in Florida and provide researchers with a count of manatees visible in Florida waters during the several days of the survey.

Manatee surveys

2018                6,131

2017                6,620

2016                6,250

2015                6,063

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Manatees were downlisted in 2017 from “endangered” to the less serious “threatened” status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

To help keep manatees safe:

  • Obey posted signs for manatee slow-speed zones.
  • Wear polarized sunglasses to see manatees in your path.
  • If you observe a manatee mating herd – several manatees gathered as males vie to mate with a female – watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the mating or endanger you; adult manatees typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
  • Never feed or water manatees as they will become habituated to people, which could put them at risk of injury.
  • Stow trash and line when underway. Marine debris that blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees.

You can show your support for manatees by purchasing a manatee Florida license plate at or a manatee decal. Funds from the license plates and decals support manatee research and conservation.

To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Related coverage

Manatee speed zones effective April 1

Manatee gallery

Manatee deaths on rise

Flippers and Feathers

state budget

Beaches to benefit from state budget

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

CITY ISLAND – Florida’s beaches and red tide research are among the beneficiaries of the nearly $89 billion state fiscal year 2018-19 budget that Gov. Rick Scott approved in March, he announced at Mote Marine Laboratory last week.

While agriculture accounts for a large portion – more than $1.7 billion – of the $4 billion environmental budget component, beaches, parks, springs, the Everglades and other initiatives receive significant investment, up slightly from the 2017-18 budget.

A record $100 million is budgeted for beach restoration – $50 million for beach and dune restoration, beach renourishment and other coastal restoration projects and $50 million for the state’s share of beach restoration due to Hurricane Irma damage in 2017.

Another $3.6 million is set aside for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) new Florida Resilient Coastline Initiative, which will assist local governments with sea level rise planning, coastal resilience projects and protection of coral reef health, including Mote’s Coral Reef Restoration Initiative.

The budget allows $500,000 for Mote’s coral initiative in coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), DEP, and others. In combination with a similar 2018 state investment, Mote scientists hope to restore 50,000 corals by 2019, with a goal to eventually restore 1 million corals and increase living coral reefs by 25 percent, according to Mote officials.

With the environment being the primary tourist attraction in the state, “These investments aren’t just a positive step in support of our environment, but a strong investment in Florida’s economy,” Mote Marine Laboratory President and CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby said.

Red tide

The budget also includes $1.6 million for a red tide research program between Mote and FWRI to “strengthen research, education and outreach efforts, including development of new technologies for mitigation, clean-up, control and community reporting of red tides, rapid assessment for bloom forecasting, public health protection with expansion of Mote’s Beach Conditions Reporting System, and expanded research into the effects of red tide on commercial fisheries,” Crosby said.

“Red tides in Florida negatively impact our environment and economy by killing fish, harming marine mammals, closing shellfish harvest areas, deterring tourists from visiting Gulf coastlines, causing beachgoers to cough and sneeze due to airborne toxins, and even sending people with chronic respiratory disorders to hospital emergency rooms,” he said. “Mote’s world-class independent research enterprise is designed to address such threats and benefit Florida’s natural ecosystems.”

Other environmental budget beneficiaries are:

  • Water quality – $460 million
  • Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, dike repair – $355 million
  • Natural lands, Florida Forever – $172 million
  • Springs – $55 million
  • Parks – $50 million
  • Water infrastructure – $50 million
  • Wildfire prevention, firefighter raises – $3 million