![]() Do not swim among dead fish because they can be associated with harmful bacteria. If you experience irritation, get out of the water and thoroughly wash off. If you are particularly susceptible to irritation from plant products, avoid an area with a red tide bloom. People with respiratory illness may also experience respiratory irritation in the water. However, the Florida red tide can cause some people to suffer skin irritation and burning eyes. Is it safe to swim during a Florida red tide? The Florida Department of Health advises people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions, such as emphysema or asthma, to avoid red tide areas. Offshore winds usually keep respiratory effects experienced by those on the shore to a minimum. Some people experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when the Florida red tide organism is present and winds blow onshore. Will I experience respiratory irritation during a Florida red tide? The information provided by forecasting and monitoring allows people to make informed decisions regarding their beach-going activities. Red tide movement and concentration are important because the effects of a red tide, such as dead fish and human respiratory irritation, depend on these factors. Scientists also monitor the concentration of the red tide organism by collecting water samples routinely and in response to blooms. brevis or “Florida red tide.” At high enough concentrations, Florida red tide can discolor water a red or brown hue.Ĭan we predict where a red tide will occur?Īlthough the occurrence of a red tide cannot be predicted, scientists can forecast its movement using wind and water current data once a bloom is located. In Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, the species that causes most red tides is Karenia brevis, often abbreviated as K. ![]() Red Tide Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Ī red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plantlike organism).
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