Hurricane Michael and Deadly Red Tides — What Can Be Done?

UPDATE — October 10, 2018: As Hurricane Michael threatens the Florida panhandle with what could be historic devastation, experts are weighing in on how it might interact with the nearly year-long red tide that has been plaguing Florida's western coast.

Scientists predict that the hurricane could first help to disperse the red tide, but could subsequently add fuel to additional red tide growth.

The organisms that compose a red tide are fragile, and as the hurricane churns up the region's water, it's likely to break up the ride tide and move it off the coast.

However, if the hurricane generates the flooding that's currently predicted, it's likely to send agricultural fertilizers, sewage, and other nutrients flowing into the gulf. All of those feed the toxic algae that create red tides, so it could only be a matter of time before a fresh bloom develops.

Read Countable's original story from August 16, 2018 below.

The story

On Wednesday, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in response to the unusually severe “red tide” that has killed thousands of fish and other aquatic life, sickened people with respiratory conditions, and substantially disrupted the area’s tourism industry.

What’s a red tide?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a red tide is a type of harmful algae bloom that can produce dangerous toxins, and can lead to severe impacts on human health, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy, as is currently happening in Florida.

Florida’s red tides happen every year, although they vary significantly in severity. They are the result of a naturally occurring alga that initially develops 10 to 40 miles offshore.

Do human activities contribute to red tides?

While human activities don’t create red tides, a growing body of evidence suggests that we make them worse.

The EPA explains that harmful algae blooms require sunlight, slow-moving water, and nutrients to grow. While they initially develop offshore, away from human-contributed nutrient sources, once they move toward shore, they feed off of such nutrients for their growth.

Human activities don’t create harmful algae blooms, but they make the problem worse, making blooms more severe and more frequent.

What are human-contributed sources of nutrients?

According to the EPA, the primary human-contributed sources of nutrient pollution (excessive nitrogen and phosphorus) are:

• Agriculture: Animal manure, excess fertilizer applied to crops and fields, and soil erosion make agriculture one of the largest sources of nutrient pollution in the country.
• Stormwater: When precipitation falls on our cities and towns, it runs across hard surfaces – like rooftops, sidewalks and roads – and carries pollutants into local waterways.
• Wastewater: Our sewer and septic systems are responsible for treating large quantities of waste, and these systems do not always operate properly or remove enough nutrients before discharging into waterways.
• Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuel combustion for electric power generation, industry, transportation, and agriculture has increased the amount of nitrogen in the air.
• In and Around the Home: Fertilizers, yard and pet waste, and certain soaps and detergents contain nitrogen and phosphorus, and can contribute to nutrient pollution if not properly handled. The amount of hard surfaces and type of landscaping can also increase nutrient runoff during wet weather.

Does climate change play a role?

While Florida red tides have been well documented for more than a century, their incidence seems to have increased since the 1950s and 1960s. Climate change could be a factor, as warmer waters can encourage algae growth. The Gulf of Mexico’s surface temperature has warmed by about two degrees Fahrenheit since 1977.

Scientists in Florida are field-testing several “promising” methods to control toxic algae blooms, and welcome the state-of-emergency declaration that sends more funding to their research.

What do you think?

Should the U.S. regulate nutrient pollution more heavily? Do more to combat climate change? Increase funding to scientific research into algae bloom-control methods? All or none of the above? Hit Take Action to tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / Public Domain)