Residents in Florida, US complained about burning eyes and breathing problems. Florida’s southwest coast experienced a flare-up of the toxic red tide algae in March 2023 setting off concerns that it could continue to stick around for a while.
About Red Tide
- Basically, red tide is a term used to refer to a toxic organism. As its name suggests, it can cause red discoloration in the water. One may also hear red tide referred to by its scientific name, “Karenia brevis.”
- This organism multiplies and results in harmful algal blooms.
- Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae—plant-like organisms that live in the sea and freshwater—grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds.
- The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal.
- While many people call these blooms ‘red tides,’ scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. One of the best known HABs in the US occurs nearly every summer along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
- This bloom, like many HABs, is caused by microscopic algae that produce toxins that kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat. The toxins may also make the surrounding air difficult to breathe. As the name suggests, the bloom of algae often turns the water red.
