Tag: NOAA
Dolphins still dying from recent red tide
Red tide is suspected of killing 177 dolphins over the past year in southwest Florida, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Elevated bottlenose dolphin mortalities have occurred in Manatee, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties since the bloom of the red tide organism Karenia brevis began in November 2017, according to NOAA, calling it an “unusual mortality event.”
The bloom affected Gulf of Mexico waters around Anna Maria Island from August 2018 to February 2019, and has reappeared sporadically in background concentrations since then locally and elsewhere in the state.
Other species including fish, sea turtles and manatees also are dying because of the ongoing harmful algal bloom, according to NOAA.
The last time a similar event happened was in 2005-06, when red tide killed about 190 dolphins in the region.
In addition, more than 200 bottlenose dolphins have become stranded on Gulf beaches from Florida to Louisiana – the area of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill – since Feb. 1, according to NOAA. The causes are still under investigation.
NOAA estimates about 12,388 dolphins live in the Gulf of Mexico from the Big Bend area of Florida south to Key West.
If you find a stranded, dead or sick dolphin, call NOAA’s emergency strandings number at 1-877-WHALE HELP (1-877-942-5343) or contact the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
Dolphin tips
- DON’T push the animal back out to sea! Stranded marine mammals may be sick or injured. Returning animals to sea delays examination and treatment and often results in the animal re-stranding in worse condition.
- If the animal returns to the water on its own, DON’T attempt to interact with it (swim with, ride, etc.).
- DO put human safety above animal safety. If conditions are dangerous, do not attempt to approach the animal.
- DO stay with the animal until rescuers arrive, but use caution. Marine mammals can be dangerous and/or carry disease. Keep a safe distance from the head and tail. Do not touch the animal and avoid inhaling the animal’s expired air.
- DO keep its skin moist and cool by splashing water over its body. Use wet towels to help keep the skin moist and prevent sunburn.
- DON’T cover or obstruct the blowhole. Try to keep sand and water away from the blowhole.
- DO keep crowds away and noise levels down to avoid causing further stress to the animal.
- DO report all dead marine mammals, even if they are decomposed, to 877-WHALE HELP (877-942-5343).
- DO keep dogs/pets away from the live or dead marine mammal.
- DON’T collect any parts (tissues, teeth, bones, or gear, etc.) from dead animals. They are still covered by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Manatee waters clear of red tide
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – No red tide is predicted in Anna Maria Island waters through Monday, Jan. 28, and area waters remained clear of red tide last week, according to today’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report.
NOAA predicts low to very low red tide-related respiratory irritation in Manatee County through Monday.
No red tide was found in water samples at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, the Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach or Palma Sola Bay as of Jan. 22, according to the FWC. However, three red tide-related fish kills were reported in Manatee County over the past week, one at the Anna Maria City Pier.
Respiratory irritation was reported on Jan. 17 and Jan. 19-20 at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and Jan. 20-21 and Jan. 23 at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, according to the FWC.
Blooms of Florida red tide can be patchy, with varying concentrations of the toxin it produces, causing effects to be noticeable on one beach but not on a nearby beach.
The bloom, which is now affecting Collier County to the south, began in Southwest Florida in October 2017 and arrived in Anna Maria Island waters on Aug. 3.
Wildlife impacts
Since the bloom began in 2017, red tide has caused 589 sea turtle deaths, according to the FWC.
Of the 824 manatees that died in Florida waters in 2018, 132 of them were caused by red tide, including 10 from Manatee County, with six of those discovered around Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, the FWC reports. An additional 79 manatee deaths are suspected to have been caused by red tide, for a total of 211 probable red tide deaths, more than from watercraft (121 deaths) last year.
As of Dec. 20, 2018, 127 dolphins had died from red tide in Florida waters, according to NOAA, which stopped tracking dolphin mortality during the federal government shutdown that was suspended today.
Causes
Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people.
Scientists say that salinity, currents, temperature and light play a part in the formation of red tide blooms, in addition to:
- nutrient runoff from Florida’s natural phosphate deposits
- nutrients from the Loop Current, which brings Caribbean seawater to Florida’s west coast
- natural and man-made nutrients that travel down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico
- nutrients from iron-rich Saharan dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida’s waters
- nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and animal waste.
Storm may have beat red tide back
Updated Dec. 21, 2018 – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Bad weather may have brought the Christmas gift that Floridians have been asking for – the beginning of the end of red tide.
The bloom that began in Southwest Florida in October 2017 and arrived in Anna Maria Island waters on Aug. 3 had been getting weaker before the storms arrived, NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf said.
Concentrations of the toxic algae had disappeared or fallen to background or very low levels everywhere in the state except for two sites in Manatee County as of Dec. 17, according to Friday’s update from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
“If we have a normal winter this year, this will be the end of the bloom.” – Rick Stumpf, NOAA
Since those samples were taken, heavy weather on Dec. 20-21 gave red tide cells a beating in the waves, likely dealing a serious blow to the 14-month bloom in Southwest Florida waters, according to Stumpf.
Red tide swims toward light and nutrients, and steady, rough weather can keep the cells from getting to their food and growing, he said.
The same storm-tossed water causes diatoms – good algae that produce oxygen – to grow and gradually overtake red tide, Stumpf said.
“If we have a normal winter this year, this will be the end of the bloom,” he said.
Forecast
Forecasters predict medium levels of red tide through at least Monday, Dec. 24 at Palma Sola Bay, and very low levels around Anna Maria Island, according to the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
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.
A medium concentration of the harmful algae was detected on Dec. 17 in water samples at Palma Sola Bay and a very low concentration was found at Longboat Pass that day.
High concentrations of red tide detected in a sample at Palma Sola Bay on Dec. 13 were no longer present on Dec. 17.
No fish kills were reported in Manatee County last week, but respiratory irritation was reported, according to the FWC.
Related coverage
Red tide predictions for weekend: Low
Low concentrations of red tide are predicted in Island waters from Oct. 13-15 by NOAA and the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
Today’s report from the FWC shows that red tide had decreased in waters off Anna Maria Island before Hurricane Michael passed by on Oct. 10.
Wildlife affected by red tide
Manatees
At least 172 manatees have died during the red tide bloom that has plagued Southwest Florida since October 2017, and which reached Anna Maria Island on Aug. 3.
To date, 67 dead manatees tested positive for red tide, and red tide is suspected in 105 manatee deaths, according to the FWC.
Nine manatee deaths have been recorded in Manatee County so far this year, three in Anna Maria Sound; none are confirmed from red tide.
So far this year, 676 manatees have died in state waters, compared to 538 in all of 2017.
Sea turtles
Since the red tide began locally in August, the Mote Marine Laboratory Stranding Investigations Program, serving Sarasota County and part of Manatee County, has taken in 216 sea turtles, only 14 of which were alive, with many of the deaths due to red tide exposure. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has recorded 36 sea turtle strandings.
Dolphins
Mote has recorded 21 deceased bottlenose dolphins, 10 from red tide exposure. In all, 66 dolphins have stranded during the red tide as of Oct. 11, according to NOAA. No new strandings have been reported since Sept. 27.
Birds
Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc. in Bradenton Beach has taken in between 60-70 birds sick from eating fish contaminated with red tide, mostly cormorants and laughing gulls.
The Oct. 12 report shows that Manatee County water samples with medium or high levels of red tide decreased from 5 percent to 25 percent from the previous week.
Low concentrations of red tide were found in water samples on Oct. 8 at Longboat Pass, with very low concentrations at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria and background concentrations at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach, with none 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 on Oct. 4, and from Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 10-11 at Coquina Beach (Bradenton Beach), and Oct. 5-7 and Oct. 10-11 at Manatee Beach (Holmes Beach).
Fish kills also were reported in Manatee County over the past week.
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.
Related coverage
Hurricane Michael could make red tide better – or worse
Red tide fishing request denied
CVB tracks red tide’s influence on tourism
Hurricane Michael brushing Anna Maria Island
Updated Oct. 10, 7:30 a.m. – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Michael developed Tuesday night into a category 4 storm with 140 mph winds, moving north at 13 mph in the Gulf of Mexico.
Manatee County remains under tropical storm, tornado and storm surge watches of up to 2 feet as of 5:45 a.m. Wednesday.
The storm is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle this afternoon, brushing Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria Elementary School is closed today, while other Manatee County schools are open. Emergency shelters will remain closed, according to the county Emergency Operations Center.
High tide today, Wednesday, Oct. 10, on the Island will be at 1:56 p.m., when storm surge will be greatest, around 2 feet according to NOAA. Up to four inches of rain is expected, with wind gusts of 30-40 mph.
Tuesday, Michael caused high surf, high tides and, in combination with a king tide, some flooding on Anna Maria Island.
Emergency managers advise beachgoers to be aware of dangerous rip currents, and they discourage swimming or surfing.
Manatee County declared a state of emergency Tuesday, following Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s Monday statewide emergency declaration.
The state of emergency allows people on medications to refill prescriptions early in anticipation of storm evacuation under Florida Statute 252.358, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
It also limits price hikes on gasoline, according to AAA. If there is a “gross disparity” between the current price and what the retailer charged during a 30-day period prior to the storm, it is considered “price gouging” and should be reported to the Attorney General’s office via the Price Gouging Hotline at 1-866-966-7226. During the past 30 days, Florida’s average price for a gallon of gasoline ranged from $2.72-$2.82 per gallon.
A state of emergency also allows local government officials to apply for emergency funding.
For helpful storm-related information, see The Sun’s Hurricane Guide.
Flooding began Tuesday in some Bradenton Beach neighborhoods, and tidal waters covered portions of Avenue B, Avenue A and 24th, 25th and 26th streets on the north end of town. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bradenton Beach roads flooded on Tuesday as Michael churned offshore. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bradenton Beach roads flooded on Tuesday as Michael churned offshore. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bradenton Beach roads flooded on Tuesday as Michael churned offshore. - Joe Hendricks | Sun