ANNA MARIA ISLAND – High concentrations of red tide were again discovered last week at the 10th Street Pier in Bradenton Beach for the second week in a row, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
Medium concentrations were detected that day in water samples taken at the Rod n’ Reel Pier in Anna Maria, the Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach and at Key Royale (School Key) in Holmes Beach. Very low concentrations were found at the Palma Sola Bay bridge in Bradenton, according to the report.
Red tide began appearing in mid-April after 215 million gallons of contaminated water was discharged into Tampa Bay from Piney Point, a former phosphate plant. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as fertilizer for red tide. The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prevent contaminated water in a holding pond on top of a compromised gypsum stack from flooding the area. Piney Point is the subject of three pending lawsuits and is in receivership.
Fish kills and respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in Manatee County and Pinellas and Sarasota counties, among others.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.
Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
Updated red tide forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide hit the Island this year in mid-April. By mid-September, it appeared the worst had subsided. A stroll down Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach or Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was free of coughing shoppers, and the air smelled like fresh donuts and grilled seafood rather than dead fish.
Unfortunately, this relief was short-lived, and red tide returned in a concentration high enough to cause concern for locals and tourists alike.
“We can’t take it, my daughter and husband have been coughing constantly,” said Jacksonville resident Jillian Sovine, who is staying in Anna Maria with her family and two friends. “Tomorrow we’re going to drive down to Siesta Key and see if it’s any better there. There’s nothing we can do; we’ve already paid for the house so we’ll sleep here, but as long as it’s this bad, we can’t have any fun on the beach or even by the pool. We’ve talked to other people on our street who are doing the same thing.”
A drive by the Coquina Beach public parking lot last week was a sign of the wrath of red tide. Even with construction that has temporarily closed hundreds of parking spaces, there was ample parking available with some areas completely free of cars. Bridge Street, which makes use of The Old Town Tram parking shuttle service due to very little public parking, had plenty of empty spaces even during the busy lunch rush. This could be a bad sign, but not everybody is seriously concerned.
“On a scale of 1-10 as far as being concerned, I’d put it at about a five. I have two young kids under the age of two, so of course there is concern,” said Joe Lehman, of Columbus, Ohio. who is visiting Bradenton Beach for a week with his family. While red tide wasn’t the optimum scenario for Lehman and his family, they all agreed it was a great choice to visit the Island and it wasn’t going to spoil their vacation.
Red tide around AMI increased from low to medium concentrations last week, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide has been detected in medium concentrations in Anna Maria Island waters, an increase from last week’s low concentrations, according to today’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
The toxic algae began appearing in mid-April after 215 million gallons of contaminated water was dumped into Tampa Bay from Piney Point, a former phosphate plant. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as a fertilizer for red tide. The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prevent contaminated water in a holding pond on top of a compromised gypsum stack from flooding the area. Piney Point is the subject of two pending lawsuits and is in receivership.
Red tide dissipated in Manatee County from Aug. 30 until Sept. 14, when low concentrations were detected. On Sept. 21, medium concentrations were detected in water samples taken at the Rod n’ Reel Pier in Anna Maria and at the 10th Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. Low concentrations were detected at Key Royale (School Key) and the Longboat Pass boat ramp, according to the report.
Fish kills and respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in Manatee County over the past week.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.
Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide has returned to local waters after a two-week respite, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
The toxic algae began appearing in mid-April near Piney Point after 215 million gallons of contaminated water were discharged into Tampa Bay. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as a fertilizer for red tide.
The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prevent the collapse of a compromised gypsum stack containing the contaminated water. The former phosphate plant – the subject of two pending lawsuits – is in receivership and is slated for closure and the disposal of the remaining contaminated water.
Red tide dissipated in Manatee County from Aug. 30 until Sept. 14, when low concentrations were detected in water samples taken at the Rod n’ Reel Pier in Anna Maria. Very low concentrations were detected at the Longboat Pass boat ramp, and background concentrations were detected at Key Royale (School Key) and the Palma Sola Bay Bridge, according to the report.
No fish kills or respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in or offshore of Manatee County over the past week, but were reported in Pinellas County to the north and Sarasota County to the south.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.
Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
Updated red tide forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island’s world-famous beaches have seen a record number of visitors this summer, and the Labor Day holiday is no exception.
With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in many northern states that were locked down in the spring, summer statistics for the Island are rising, fueled by in-state visitors coming to the beach to escape the heat and out-of-state tourists who couldn’t previously take a vacation.
According to data gathered from the Manatee County Tax Collector, the three cities that make up Anna Maria Island saw a combined average increase in tourist taxes of about 40% in July – the most recent month for which records are available – compared to the same month in 2020, when the pandemic significantly slowed tourism.
Business owners and innkeepers were happy to see the traffic back up as thousands of visitors headed to the Island’s two main beaches, Manatee and Coquina, to celebrate what’s become known as the unofficial end of summer.
As the red tide that has plagued the waters since April begins to wane, the COVID-19 spike remains a serious concern for Florida residents. However, very few visitors appear to be letting these issues dampen their fun.
“We were concerned about red tide because we wanted to hit the beaches,” said Ken Barkoff, who was visiting for Labor Day weekend with his wife, Kim, and son. “Our son just moved here, and we wanted to see him. We’re vaccinated and took the precautions we needed to, in order to get here safely, so we’re not too worried about it,” Kim Barkoff added.
Other visitors shared the Barkoffs’ sentiment, seeming to be happy to visit and ready to enjoy a holiday with as little stress as possible.
“It’s easy to check on red tide online and I saw it was pretty much gone,” said Dixie Brooks, who was visiting the Island for the first time, making a quick, two-day trip from Missouri.
And while the official numbers on Labor Day visitors won’t be available for a few days, the endless stretch of beach umbrellas along the Gulf is a measure of the Island’s continued popularity, even with the spike in the COVID-19 Delta variant.
“The COVID situation is pretty much the same here as it is back home,” Brooks said, “so I’m not concerned.”
UPDATED SEPT. 12, 2021 – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the second week in a row, no red tide was detected in any water samples tested in Manatee County last week, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
The toxic algae began appearing near Piney Point in mid-April after 215 million gallons of contaminated water was dumped into Tampa Bay at the former phosphate plant. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as fertilizer for red tide.
The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prevent the collapse of a compromised gypsum stack containing the contaminated water. The former phosphate plant is in receivership and is slated for closure and the disposal of the remaining contaminated water.
Despite the clean Manatee County report, red tide remains in waterways in Pinellas County to the north and Sarasota County to the south. Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in or offshore of Manatee County, as well as Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties over the past week.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.
Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
Updated red tide forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide continues to pose a risk of respiratory irritation in Manatee and surrounding counties. The Florida Department of Health issued a warning that people may experience respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms, with some people who have breathing problems, such as asthma, experiencing more severe symptoms.
High levels of red tide were detected in water samples at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria on Aug. 9 according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
Medium levels were detected at the Kingfish boat ramp in Holmes Beach and low levels were detected at the Palma Sola Bay Bridge. Current forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.
Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Charlotte counties last week.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.
Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Charlotte counties.
Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
Florida Poison Control Centers have a toll-free 24/7 hotline for reporting illnesses, including health effects from exposure to red tide, at 1-888-232-8635.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – NOAA reports a continuing risk of red tide-related respiratory irritation in Manatee and surrounding counties, with impacts varying by beach and with wind direction.
Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County at Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach from July 29 through Aug. 5, as well as in Sarasota, Pinellas, Charlotte and Lee counties, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds.
Manatee County had medium levels of red tide in water samples at the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and the 10th Street pier on Aug. 2.
Low levels were detected at Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach and the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria on Aug. 2.
Current forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.
Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Charlotte counties.
Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
Five conservation groups filed a lawsuit on June 24 against HRK Holdings, the owners of the closed Piney Point phosphate plant in Manatee County, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, claiming that the discharge of 215 million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater from Piney Point’s phosphogypsum stack could be feeding the algae bloom. The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus act as fertilizer for the red tide algae. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection sued HRK on Aug. 5.
PALMETTO – The owners of Piney Point have been sued a second time in six weeks, this time by their co-defendant, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The closed phosphate processing plant was the site of an FDEP-approved discharge of 215 million gallons of contaminated water into Tampa Bay in March and April. The dumping was intended to prevent a compromised and leaking gypsum stack containing more than 450 million gallons of wastewater from failing and flooding nearby homes and businesses.
Since then, a bloom of red tide in Tampa Bay has emerged and spread to the Gulf of Mexico off Manatee and Pinellas counties. Scientists and bay managers note a connection between nitrogen in the wastewater and the proliferation of toxic red tide algae, which processes the substance as a nutrient.
Five conservation groups, including ManaSota-88 and Sarasota-based Suncoast Waterkeeper, filed a lawsuit on June 24 against Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC and FDEP, seeking to hold both responsible for negligence in managing the site. HRK’s authorized representative is hedge fund investor William F. Harley III; the registered agent and site manager is Jeffrey Barath, both of Palmetto, according to the Florida Division of Corporations.
On Aug. 5, co-defendant FDEP sued HRK in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court to seek injunctive relief to prevent any more discharges of wastewater, plus damages and civil penalties, claiming that HRK failed to safely operate the gyp stacks and protect surface and groundwater.
The state environmental agency is seeking $50,000 per day for violations of an order to remove the wastewater by 2019 and $15,000 per day for violations of surface and groundwater standards and other violations on the site. FDEP also seeks the appointment of a court-appointed receiver to oversee the management and closure of the site.
“The ultimate goal remains closure of the site once and for all,” FDEP Interim Secretary Shawn Hamilton said in a press release.
Blood from a turnip?
HRK Holdings LLC and HRK Industries LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2012 and settled the case in 2017, according to records at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa. Chapter 11 bankruptcy provides for a business reorganization plan that enables creditors to be repaid.
The reorganization allowed HRK to create the industrial park adjacent to Port Manatee, according to the Tampa bankruptcy law firm that represented HRK.
The company owns 676 acres at the site, including three wells more than 600 feet deep that are permitted to pump up to 150,000 gallons per day from the Floridan aquifer, according to the company website. While the phosphate operation remains closed, the site is currently used to store salt, fertilizer and other substances belonging to at least nine tenants – including the Manatee County Port Authority, according to the website, which advertises portions of the site for lease for industrial use.
HRK’s reorganization was confirmed in 2016 by Judge K. Rodney May in a bankruptcy case involving more than $33 million in claims. During the case, HRK sold about 65 acres, netting about $15 million to reduce secured debt and “establish funding to ensure the environmental integrity of the phosphogypsum stack system located on the property,” according to the law firm’s website.
About 267 million gallons of contaminated water remain in the pond in the compromised gyp stack, which has been temporarily patched. The water consists of phosphogypsum process water, seawater, rain and dredge material from Port Manatee.
Manatee County commissioners approved a $9.35 million agreement in April for Tampa-based ASRus to design and build a deep injection well on county property to permanently dispose of the water.
Meanwhile, the clock may be ticking on HRK’s ability to fund work at the site; FDEP noted on Aug. 5 in its announcement of the lawsuit that there is an ongoing foreclosure action between HRK and its mortgage holder.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide is not only killing fish in waters around the Island, but people are experiencing the trademark respiratory symptoms associated with the toxic algae.
Visitor Jackie Harling said she and her husband and daughter began having symptoms on July 20.
“We know for sure it was a red tide as the moment we opened our truck doors we all started coughing,” she said. “We loaded everything into our condo and spent the majority of the time in the condo until the next day where my husband and daughter were outside for a couple of hours and realized it was not a good situation. Even though I had been indoors most of the time, I was having trouble breathing.”
NOAA has issued a red tide respiratory warning for Manatee and surrounding counties, noting that impacts vary by location and with wind direction. Current forecasts of respiratory irritation are available at NOAA and at Mote.
Red tide-related respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach, and in Sarasota, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds.
Manatee County registered high levels of red tide in water samples at the Longboat Pass boat ramp and 10th Street Pier on July 19.
Levels were medium at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria on July 19 and at the Seafood Shack Restaurant on July 22.
Low levels were detected at the Palma Sola Bay Bridge in Bradenton on July 19 and very low at Key Royale in Holmes Beach on July 15.
Levels ranged from background to high concentrations in 21 samples collected from Manatee County waters. The FWC also reported high concentrations of red tide in areas of Pinellas and Sarasota counties and medium levels in areas of Hillsborough County.
Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Hernando and Lee counties.
Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
Gov. Ron DeSantis last week refused the request of conservation groups to declare a state of emergency due to ongoing red tide in and around Tampa Bay.
Five conservation groups filed a lawsuit on June 24 against the owners of Piney Point and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, claiming that the discharge of 215 million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater from the Piney Point phosphogypsum stack in Manatee County could be feeding the algae bloom. The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus act as fertilizer for the toxic red tide algae.
DeSantis said the state had budgeted money to mitigate red tide, and that the tourism industry could be harmed by declaring a state of emergency.
“It would have been very irresponsible to do that,” he said, adding that the Legislature has appropriated up to $100 million to “mothball Piney Point.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As much as Island residents and visitors hoped the red tide event would continue to spare Anna Maria Island beaches, unfortunately, this is not the case. Beaches that were free from red tide just days ago are now showing signs of the problem, and beachgoers are beginning to suffer the effects.
“We went fishing yesterday and our captain said some of the fish go into the bay and get trapped and are dying,” said Kelly Heckard, who is visiting for two weeks with her family from Cincinnati. “Our captain also said the sharks can smell it and will avoid red tide areas, so the shark fishing is no good. We did however catch some red snapper and some mackerel, which we’re grilling here on the beach today.”
While some places such as the Rod & Reel Pier have said not to eat the fish, according to Heckard, her captain said the fish they caught in the bay were safe to eat. As far as symptoms from red tide, Heckard said that she and her husband both had some coughing issues and her children had both suffered some stomach problems and burning eyes, which subsided as soon as they got away from the water.
You don’t need to test the water or use complex science to know that red tide has made its way to the Island. On Monday, July 19 there were very few open parking spots at Coquina Beach, but by Thursday, July 22 there were hundreds of open spots, with entire rows being empty. Since most resorts and condo rentals tend to do a Saturday to Saturday rent schedule, that indicates that people haven’t left the Island, they just aren’t going to the beach.
“We had already booked a couple of months ago and couldn’t cancel, so we said we’ll wing it,” said Danielle Obermark, who is staying on Longboat Key with friends Sandy Guy and Jacob King from Auburndale, Fla. “I think the reports aren’t as accurate as when you get here. The reports I was seeing from Mote Marine before we got here said many dead fish, but we have only seen a couple.”
Danielle Obermark, Sandy Guy and Jacob King shop on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
Obermark and the friends she is traveling with decided to take a break from the beach to spend some time shopping and dining on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. Although they are staying in a condo on Longboat Key, they said there isn’t much to do there if you’re not relaxing on the beach. Anna Maria Island offers more off-the-beach activities, so it was worth the quick trip of 5 miles to be able to get a bite to eat and do some shopping.
“The breathing and the coughing, not having a clean beach; I wish we knew where there was a clean beach. We come here a lot and the beaches are normally so great, this is very different from anything we’ve seen,” said Guy. “We’ve been here many times, but this is our first red tide.”
While visitors come to Anna Maria Island from around the world for the warm weather and beaches, there is plenty to do on the Island and surrounding areas that will still assure an amazing vacation. Take advantage of your pool, which right now will be warm 24 hours a day and give you refreshment you may not be able to get from the Gulf at this time. Shopping, mini golf, scooter rentals, biking, culinary adventures and relaxing by the pool will make sure your vacation isn’t a bust on the Island.
If you are willing to take a ride off the Island, you will find even more activities that will make your time in the area something you will remember for years to come. To the south, there are attractions such as Sarasota Jungle Gardens, where you can get up close to native wildlife such as alligators, exotic birds, snakes and reptiles – you can even hand feed flamingos. The Ringling Museum features world-class art collected by circus founder John Ringling. St. Armands Circle offers shopping and dining just 20 minutes from the Island.
To the east in Bradenton, you will find many attractions that will make your trip one to remember. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Palma Sola Botanical Park, Manatee Village Historical Park, Perico Preserve, Village of the Arts and Riverwalk are just a few things that are sure to impress.
While red tide is here, it’s important to remember that it may be affecting one section of beach and not another, at least in high concentrations. There are likely places that will be better than others, and doing a little research will go a long way in making your time at the beach the best it can be.
One of the best tools to find out the condition of the beach you plan to visit is provided by Mote Marine Laboratory, which will not only give you real-time algae conditions, but will also inform you of rip currents, weather, surf conditions, water conditions and any alerts that may be of concern. You can also call 1-941-BEACHES to get valuable information that will help you make the most of your day at the beach.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As Anna Maria Island continues to experience a record-breaking summer of tourist visitation, the recent bloom of red tide in surrounding areas is of obvious concern to residents. But how are tourists reacting?
The Sun recently reported on Hurricane Elsa’s minimal impact on tourism, with few tourists canceling plans to visit or cutting their trips short due to the storm, and visitors appear to have the same sentiment regarding red tide.
“We have been following the red tide situation through your paper online, as well as Facebook pages and Tampa area news from our home in Jacksonville, North Carolina,” said Janelle Smith, who is visiting Bradenton Beach with her husband and two children. “We come here every year and remember how bad it was in 2018, but we need our Anna Maria Island fix; it’s our home away from home. We hope it doesn’t stink, but we’re willing to take the risk.”
“Nobody wants to see a bunch of dead fish and spend a stinky day at the beach, but from what I’ve seen this place is almost magic,” said Tina Scott, who is visiting Holmes Beach from Jacksonville with her family. “The hurricanes seem to run from the Island like they owe it money, and you have serious red tide south and north of here, but this is some of the clearest water we have ever seen and there isn’t a single dead fish or nasty smell anywhere we have been on the Island.”
Scott is correct, there is serious red tide in Siesta Key and Longboat Key, and Tampa Bay is also experiencing a real problem. So far, Anna Maria Island has been spared the worst of it, but that is already changing, with the first Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report of high concentrations in Bradenton Beach last Friday.
“We went parasailing yesterday and while we were a couple hundred feet in the air cruising past Coquina Beach, we saw a huge patch of brown gunk in the water a little farther out to sea than we were,” said Jaqui Jensen of Pittsburgh, adding that she would cancel a future trip if she knew red tide was present. “When we got back on the boat, we asked our guide what it was and he said it was the red tide algae bloom. When you see it from the air, you realize just how huge it is.”
Not your usual day trippers
While not many tourists seem to be leaving AMI due to the red tide, an unforeseen effect has taken place. Some visitors to Siesta Key and Longboat Key have kept their condos and hotel rooms there, but are making day trips to Anna Maria Island to enjoy the beaches free of the problems associated with red tide.
“My son and I are staying in Longboat Key, but it stinks and you start coughing as soon as you get to the beach,” said Sean Martin of Cincinnati Ohio, who added he had never heard of red tide until they watched the local news on TV and realized the cause of their beach problems. “We drove up here after talking to a guy that works at the convenience store we stopped at last night and he said to head to Coquina Beach. There’s plenty of parking and the beach doesn’t have a smell or a single dead fish that we could see.”
With record crowds visiting the Island this summer, another unforeseen effect of the red tide could be possible overcrowding of Island beaches if Anna Maria Island stays relatively red tide-free while surrounding beaches suffer more. This could cause the already heavy beach traffic and parking issues to escalate, but there is no guarantee the problem won’t hit here in force.
“It seems like everybody is confident that this thing will not affect the Island, but there is absolutely no reason to believe that,” said Anna Maria resident Doug Fisher, who has lived on the Island for seven years. “It got us a few years ago really bad, and I think there is very little chance that we will magically be spared this mess. Pinellas County is a mess, Sarasota is a mess and we are right in between. Why in the world would we think we won’t get nailed by this?”
Fisher is also concerned that if the Island doesn’t see the worst of the red tide, tourists from Siesta Key, Longboat Key and even the Tampa Bay area will flock to the Island for some red tide relief.
“I don’t know which is worse, dead fish or a four-hour wait for a pizza,” added Fisher, who is torn over adding visitors to an already overcrowded summer while dealing with the physical effects of red tide.
Whether it’s the Piney Point wastewater discharge, natural circumstances or a combination, red tide is certainly present in Gulf waters. How long it will last, what areas will be affected, how it will impact the economy, what that impact will be and how it will affect tourism are still questions that can’t be answered. But it appears that it takes a lot to keep a potential visitor from coming to the Island if they have their heart set on it. After more than a year of a pandemic, many think it’s worth the risk, and it will take more than a hurricane or some dead fish to stop that dream vacation.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the first time since red tide emerged several weeks ago in surrounding counties, Manatee County registered high levels of red tide in water samples at the Longboat Pass boat ramp on July 12, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.
Levels were very low at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria, at Key Royale in Holmes Beach and at the Palma Sola Bay Bridge in Bradenton on July 12. Levels ranged from background to high concentrations in 18 samples collected from Manatee County waters.
The FWC also reported high concentrations of red tide in areas of Pinellas, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties.
Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach, and in Sarasota, Pinellas and Lee counties.
Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Lee counties.
Some scientists claim that the discharge of 215 million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater from the Piney Point fertilizer plant in March and April could be feeding the algae bloom.
Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds.
Consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.
PORT MANATEE – The dumping of 215 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay this spring from a phosphogypsum stack at the closed Piney Point phosphate fertilizer plant has prompted five conservation groups to file a lawsuit today.
The suit, which claims the release endangers the public, marine ecosystems and protected species, names as defendants Gov. Ron DeSantis, Shawn Hamilton, acting secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC and the Manatee County Port Authority.
The wastewater was released from the compromised stack, which is topped by a pond containing hundreds of millions of gallons of process wastewater, stormwater and tons of dredged spoil from Port Manatee, to take pressure off the stack and avert a worse spill. Surrounding areas were evacuated for fear of flooding prior to the release in late March and early April.
“Piney Point was and still is a ticking timebomb,” said Justin Bloom, Sarasota-based Suncoast Waterkeeper founder and board member, in a press release. “Rather than closing it when they had the chance, FDEP allowed the site to become even more dangerous, knowing full well the risk of collapse and catastrophic contamination. Now Manatee County is seeking to inject the hundreds of millions of gallons of remaining hazardous wastewater into our groundwater. We’re not confident in our regulators’ ability to manage this mess and this legal action is necessary to protect our communities and waterways from further harm.”
According to the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, Piney Point is an ongoing threat to public health and the environment for several reasons, most pressing, the wastewater discharge into Tampa Bay, which is now experiencing harmful algae blooms and fish kills. Other threats include failure of the gyp stacks and the wastewater pond liners, impacts on groundwater quality and effects from the planned deep-well injection of the wastewater.
“Recent events at the abandoned Piney Point phosphate plant clearly demonstrate that not enough is being done to safeguard the public or the environment from the devastating impacts that the phosphate industry is having on Florida,” said Glenn Compton, chairman of ManaSota-88 Inc., in a press release. “Piney Point represents the true legacy the phosphate industry will leave behind. There is no economically feasible or environmentally sound way to close an abandoned gyp stack. This legacy includes the perpetual spending of taxpayer monies and risks to the public’s health and the environment.”
DEP turned Piney Point into a disposal site for dredge material after the owner went bankrupt and abandoned the property, according to the suit, which claims that while the department owned and operated Piney Point from 2001-04, it oversaw the installation of inadequate liners and approved the use of the site for dredged material storage despite knowing the gyp stacks were at risk of failure due to foundation settling and other problems.
Florida regulators ignored the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ advice to reject the dredge storage proposal, the suit claims.
“Lawsuits like this shouldn’t be necessary, especially in Florida where so much of the state’s economy and residents’ quality of life are dependent on healthy water quality,” said Annie Beaman, co-executive director of Our Children’s Earth Foundation, in a press release. “State and local regulators have failed the public for decades and continue to mismanage the waste generated by the phosphate industry. We resort to federal court oversight when decisions by the political branches of government endanger the public. Enforcing basic environmental standards with citizen suits is the best option we have to ensure a healthier future for Tampa Bay, its communities and its wildlife.”
The wastewater dumped into Tampa Bay continues to spread throughout the estuary and into Sarasota Bay, transporting tons of nitrogen and phosphorus that fuels the growth of toxic algae blooms that kill seagrasses and other marine life, according to the conservation groups. Fish kills caused by red tide have been reported in recent weeks in Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Phosphogypsum contained in stacks is radioactive and can contain uranium, thorium and radium, which decay into carcinogenic radon, according to the conservation groups, which claim that 1 billion tons of radioactive phosphogypsum is stored in 25 stacks, including at Piney Point.
