2021 Has Brought One of the Worst Red Tides to Florida in Decades

This summer has seen one of the worst red tides in decades swarm around the coast of Florida but what is a red tide and why is this year’s event so disastrous? 

A red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon which is made up of microscopic plankton called Karenia brevis. These events are known as algal blooms and this specific microorganism turns the usually clear waters red when they are present. Whilst Karenia brevis are natural organisms, they can release toxins which are dangerous to both aquatic life and humans. Consuming these toxins via seafood or by entering the ocean can cause severe illness, yet their effects are also felt several miles inland as airborne particles can trigger respiratory problems.

Whilst red tides occur naturally in the Gulf of Mexico, this summer’s event is even more devastating than normal for several reasons. Throughout July and August, there were reports that hundreds of dead fish were washing up on the golden Floridian sands due to the algal bloom, many of which are in the most sensitive and productive area of the state. Yet it is suspected that there are further tragedies happening under the waves. When algae blooms and flourishes, it often blocks out sunlight which means plants struggle to grow and survive. If plants such as seagrass start disappearing, then fascinating marine creatures such as manatees and sea turtles also start to struggle. Locals have even seen several species of shark, including nurse and blacktip sharks, swimming up canals in what they believe is a bid to escape the polluted ocean. Some sharks can normally be seen in local canals but recently sightings have been shockingly high as these large fish are thought to be travelling in search of food and oxygen. When the clouds of algae start to die and decompose, they start consuming oxygen, leaving the surrounding areas of ocean lacking this essential resource. Yet some conservationists are worried that the canals won’t provide a safe haven for the sharks for long as if the water starts heating up, oxygen levels will fall here also and the sharks will have nowhere left to run.

Unfortunately, similar events are common each year in the Gulf of Mexico but they can be worsened by human activities. Sewage and chemicals can contribute to the red tide as they cause an excess of nutrients in the sea which fuels the growth of the algae and allows the bloom to expand quickly. Therefore, residents are asked to reduce the chemicals they put on their gardens, wash their cars on the grass where the soapy suds will seep into the earth and pick up after their pets, all to reduce the chance of excess nutrients finding their way into the sea. Yet in April, a disastrous event at an abandoned phosphate plant exposed the fact that the state environmental agency has not been effectively enforcing laws and fines for corporate polluters. 

Piney Point is an abandoned phosphate plant where much of the toxic waste from its operating days still sits waiting for proper disposal. In March, a leak was found in the liner of the reservoir pond which held wastewater full of nutrients. Despite knowing the liner had been in a bad condition for several years, no maintenance work had been carried out and so the operator was suddenly thrown into a disaster situation. The reservoir posed the risk of breaking its banks and flooding local houses and businesses, forcing residents to temporarily evacuate. State regulators permitted an emergency clearance of the reservoir in order to prevent a giant flood on the land and instead, 480 million gallons of wastewater were pumped into the sea in Tampa Bay. Due to the situation being classed as an emergency, Piney Point did not have to treat the majority of this water, leaving nitrogen and phosphorous to pour into our marine environment. These chemicals are used to make fertilisers and so the effect this may have had on helping the algal bloom to grow to such an enormous size this year is massive. Whilst scientists have not proved the link between the Piney Point spill and the large red tide this year, many are convinced that the event seriously worsened the situation and has therefore put both natural and human life at risk. 

Since the incident, five environmental groups have officially filed a lawsuit in court against the governor, the state and the operators of Piney Point as they campaign tirelessly for better protection for our planet. They demand official help with the clean up, a final closure of the plant and proper disposal of all the remaining waste at the site. Looking further to the future, they also want all ageing infrastructure to be updated to stop a similar incident happening again whilst most importantly, they want environmental regulators to step up and provide better law enforcement and monitoring in the coming years. In addition to the lawsuit, Florida based non-profit Suncoast Surfrider has helped coordinate a community response by aiding beach clean ups of dead fish and organising a protest which was attended by hundreds of angry citizens all wanting better for their local environment. Residents and the St Petersburg city council have also called for the governor to declare a state of emergency which would allow more resources to be given to the clean up of the bay whilst those in the tourism and fishing industries would gain greater compensation. Many believe the spill at Piney Point has triggered a mass ecological crisis which could have been avoided by better law enforcement as the plant has been known to fall short of environmental standards in the past. The governor is currently refusing to call a state of emergency as he believes it will harm the tourism industry but with the sea unsafe to swim in, the beaches littered with dead rotting fish and local seafood being unsafe to consume, it seems most of the tourists have already been driven away. With fishermen, tourist operators and seafront businesses yet again knocked back after struggling through the pandemic, this is another massive blow to the community. 

The Piney Point leak has not been directly attributed to the worsening red tide but it seems likely that it has had a significant impact. Yet in a very warm year, climate change could also be playing its part as warmer oceans help algae such as Karenia brevis grow at an increasing rate. With more and more carbon dioxide dissolving into the seas as well under climate change, algae could grow even faster in the coming years, helping the red tide become more pervasive and widespread.

However much the Piney Point leak contributed to this year’s algal bloom, a little or a lot, the fact is that marine life is dying each day whilst other creatures such as sharks and turtles, many of which are threatened, are struggling. First and foremost, actions need to be taken to reduce further chemical inputs to aquatic watercourses to help lessen the impact of the algae and their toxins. Whilst we can’t be certain of the cause, it seems essential that we take precautious actions. Piney Point still houses three decades worth of waste at the site and one major storm could wash more of these chemicals into the fragile bay. Throughout Florida, America and the rest of the world, there are undoubtedly and sadly going to be thousands more facilities such as Piney Point which have unsafe practices which put the environment at risk. It seems we should all use this example as a way to persuade and convince our local councils and national governments to better regulate and enforce environmental laws before an ecological and social crisis lands on our doorsteps. It seems all eyes are on Florida to see whether corporate businesses will continue to escape dealing with the consequences of their actions or whether they will finally have to face the damage they have caused.

By Neve McCracken-Heywood