Red Tide Research Paper

Red tide has always been an issue for the beaches of Florida. Because of the smell and the fish washing up on shore, red tide puts stress on the economy. The billion-dollar tourist industry takes a decline when red tide comes around. Also, red tide puts stress on the environment causing algae to give the water a red discoloration and deplete the water of oxygen causing fish and other marine life to sadly die. Because of the toxins created by red tide, skin irritations and respiratory trouble may occur in humans. Red tide is not a man-made virus for marine life, but it can be fueled sometimes by nitrate pollution and sewage dumped by cities causing the red tide to last longer. Florida’s marine life and beach-based businesses are at stake because of sewage and fertilizer run-off. If Florida does not …show more content…
Florida red tide is a high concentration of harmful marine algae. Algae blooms occur when cold-water from the seafloor stimulates the growth of algae, and when a buildup of a species that creates blooms known as red tides called phytoplankton, release toxins. According to the article Experts discuss climate, red tide, researchers say many harmful blooms are “fueled by fertilizer runoff from farming operations, which in many regions pour tons of excess nitrogen and other nutrients into rivers that eventually flow into coastal” (Scholles, 2016). The chemical stresses caused by red tide impacts all marine life. For example, red tide kills fish, marine mammals such as, sea turtles and sea birds, and benthic creatures (Pierce & Henry, 2008). The most common algae blooms