Toxic Red Tide Update
Toxic red tide update. The toxic red tide that caused fish to wash up on the shores of St. Pete Beach in Pinellas County, Florida, is finally showing signs of waning. Cleanup crews that collected around 1,000 pounds of dead fish in early March are now only picking up about 40 fish a day.
Recent cold fronts may have helped to break up the worst of the algae patches, but experts warn that the blooms can be patchy and change at any time. Scientists detected red tide in 79 samples along Florida’s Gulf Coast last week, with 18 considered to be at a “bloom” level.
Exposure to red tide can cause teary eyes and a scratchy throat, and those with asthma or chronic lung conditions may experience more severe symptoms. Pinellas County was the only county along the Southwest Florida coastline that had a moderate risk of respiratory irritation from red tide as of Monday morning.
Toxic Red Tide Update: Beachgoers should avoid swimming around dead fish, and those with chronic respiratory problems should be particularly careful and “consider staying away” from places with a red tide bloom. Residents living near the beach should close their windows and run air conditioners with proper filters. TBT