NOAA has been using some new technologies to predict future red tides. Off the coast of Maine, it appears that they will have the worst red tide ever this summer. New Hampshire is included in this gloomy forecast.
The projection is based on a sea-floor survey of the seed-like cysts of Alexandrium fundyense, (which is different than the K. Brevis red tide we get here in Fl, but just as devastating), an organism that causes the harmful algal blooms that are referred to as red tides. Cysts deposited in the fall hatch the following spring, and last fall the abundance of cysts in the sediment was 60 percent higher than observed prior to the historic bloom of 2005, indicating that a large bloom is likely in the spring of 2010.
The Scientists are so alarmed that they held a teleconference for the media in addition to their normal outlook report. Sadly the local oyster farmers seem to be in denial and even seem to be trying to blame the scientists. Saying things like “It’s so unlikely, We certainly don’t lose any sleep about it or worry much about it.” and that the last red tide closure that Duxbury oyster farmers faced was in 2005, when the state’s shellfish industry grappled with the worst red tide bloom in recent memory. Well guys, this one is supposed to be even worse so get worried. Not that there is anything to do about it.
The scientists may not be to blame, but the people that pay them certainly are. The valuable research dollars they spent on technology to predict these red tide blooms was wasted. Everyone already knew there would be a red tide there. Everyone knows what is causing it (rainwater runoff that’s polluted with fertilizers), the only thing they should be study is how to prevent it and and how to mitigate it once it occurs. Even super conservative Florida is now slowly coming around to this realization.
Here’s an experimental map I made that shows the general area they are speaking off:
We all love positive stories when it comes to the environment.
We love to see it when action is taken to prevent red tide. We believe that prevention is best solution to red tide. We believe it’s a very easy thing to prevent. It looks like the citizens of Florida are coming around to this same view point.
The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners took public comments on their proposed fertilizer regulations at their last meeting on December first.
Some people had a problem with a big loophole in the ordinance that would allow people to use fertilizer on their yards.
Some people will probable be opponents to this legislation when ever or however it’s going to be to put a vote in Pinellas country and the other counties that make up the Tampa Bay area.
Here’s a peak at some of the great things fertilizer ordinances can do for it’s citizens (and Tampa Bay) and the one thing that the opponents are sure to talk about.
USAToday has compiled a special report on the records numbers of red tide blooms and other harmful algae blooms that have been plauging the whole country’s coastlines over the past decade. They did a pretty great job, although I don’t think it ever made it t their front page and it’s only one page long. But they we’re able to land some quotes from some big names like people working for NOAA and Woods Hole.
It talks about how America has never had so much red tide in it’s history, not even close. It also mentions the massive numbers of fish killed, and most striking is that it’s been striking from Seattle to Maine and lots of places in between.
USAtoday is one of the least likely sources to report this kind of thing, but yet they so congratulations to them and they get a mention from me!
Scicurious from “Friday’s Wierd Science” has written a sexy article about a massive Diatom bloom that occurred off the coast of Napels (Italy, not Florida this tiem). It’s pretty rare that marine biology can be sexy. But since this story is and diatoms are what red tide are made off, we just made to mention that great article here and give them their props!
It’s been long known by citizens, especially in Florida, that red tide kills pets and contributes to deaths of the elderly and the sickly that are bed ridden near red tide contaminated waters. The latter is pretty rare, because usually, anyone that has the resources to live near the water in Florida, has the resources to move when their doctor says “You’re sick already, get away from the red tide!”
Pets and other land animals are a completely different story. Not only are their mouths closer to the ground (the toxins are slightly heavier than air), but lots of animals have no choice but to stay.
Texas Officials are warning people to keep their pets away from the beach, as the red tide has killed several and sickened many many more.
Ever seen a pelican that appears to be drunk during a red tide bloom?
NOAA has been using some new technologies to predict future red tides. Off the coast of Maine, it appears that they will have the worst red tide ever this summer. New Hampshire is included in this gloomy forecast.