What Could Happen if Nothing is Done About the Red Tide?

           The red tide has been wreaking havoc on the Florida coast for years and years. Nearly every year Florida sees a large algae bloom called the red tide in the summer months. The algae closes beaches, kills wildlife, and poisons the water. Florida’s economy runs on tourism, with the main attraction being the beautiful beaches.

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           When the red tide strikes the coastline many unwelcome things occur. First, beaches close and locals as well as tourists have to adapt. In a state so dependent on beaches and tourism for its economy, major events such as the red tide that force the closure of beaches are certainly a major hit to its people. As scientists have observed in recent years, the severity of the red tide is continuously increasing. We can expect in years to come that more beaches will close and people will be upset about the state of their environment.

 

          Not only does poisoned water mean that the beaches will close altogether, but it also means food and water can be not suitable to consume. Shellfish affected by the red tide which is then consumed by humans can occur as well if nothing is done about the severity of the red tide. Eating this poisonous sea food can cause serious illness and even death. While most of the time tap water remains suitable for drinking because of water treatment plants, sometimes the water treatment does not get all the algae and this can contaminate drinking water. Pets are also very vulnerable to the algae blooms. It has been found that sixty three dogs have died as a result of contaminated water that they consumed or swam in.

 

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           Not only do algae blooms like the red tide damage the oceans on the Florida coastline, but the NRDC estimates that freshwater algae blooms cause roughly 4.6 billion dollars in damages yearly. The red tide is a serious problem that needs to be thoroughly addressed as soon as possible. Pollution, mainly caused by agricultural runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus causes the red tide. It is a natural issue, but its severity has drastically increased recently. If nothing is done Florida’s economy will suffer when beaches close and tourists become unhappy.

           The red tide is also poisonous to humans as well as animals, and with the continuous increase in severity water and sea food will become poisoned more frequently. With no change ocean wildlife in Florida will die off more rapidly. The red tide is harmful to the ecosystem because it depletes oxygen in the ecosystems it affects. This kills animals such as fish and manatees. The red tide also makes water toxic to humans and closes beaches when it reaches the coastline. While it is a natural occurrence it is increasing in severity due to human pollution. It will continue to do so if nothing is done causing more wildlife to die off and beaches to remain closed for long periods of time.