Red tide poisoning Gulf of Mexico beaches

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The last time Janine Cianciolo slipped into the waters off Clearwater Beach, she wondered whether something was wrong with her eyes.

Instead of finding the bright reds and yellows of reef life, she saw only the sickly grays of a seascape tainted by toxic algae known as red tide.

"We were shooting with color film," said Cianciolo, a dive instructor and veterinarian at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. "But when we looked at it, it was like we were using black and white. There was no color. Everything was dead."

It has been that way for months, ever since one of the worst red-tide outbreaks of recent history crept into the Gulf of Mexico early this year.

The poisonous algae produce a potent nerve toxin and ultimately rob the water of oxygen. The algae kill sea life and make some people feel sick. Red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has been reported for more than 100 years. Recently, outbreaks have seemed more severe, although it's unclear why.

Since January, red tide has killed tens of thousands of fish, crabs, birds and other small creatures. It has killed at least 66 manatees and 34 dolphins, and sickened almost 180 sea turtles, most of which have died.

The bloom has chased tourists from the beach, leaving them with sore throats, a hacking cough and a headache that subsides only when they get away from the water.

It has appeared as far south as Collier County, Fla., and as far north and west as Pensacola Beach. Early this month, it surfaced in Apalachicola, forcing the closure of oyster beds along the Florida Panhandle. The algae contaminate shellfish, making them dangerous to eat.

"It's just been horrible this year," said Jon Johnsen, owner of Fun & Sun Parasail on Anna Maria Island. "We've all been suffering through it."

Johnsen's anxiety is typical of many small businesses along the Gulf. They rely on sunshine, sugary beaches and sparkling water to lure a steady stream of tourists. Red tide can effectively knock out two-thirds of that equation.

"They want to come here and enjoy the water," said Johnsen, who has spent more than 30 years on the Gulf. "Last week, I had two women leave after they saw the dead fish. I can't blame them. Nobody wants to see or smell a bunch of dead fish."

Local governments know that. On days with severe red tide, they clean the beaches of dead fish and crabs that wash ashore. Sometimes, a few employees can handle the job. Sometimes, they need a backhoe and a front-end loader.

"It can be really bad," Johnsen said. "One day, it was like a fish house showed up and dumped their whole stock on the beach. I just sat on that picnic table and cried."

Red tide forms when tiny, single-celled algae called Karenia brevis begin multiplying out of control. The algae produce a nerve toxin lethal to fish and other sea life. But the toxin is only part of the problem.

As creatures die and decompose, they produce bacteria that suck oxygen from the water. Animals that survived the toxin often suffocate from the lack of oxygen.

As the algae bloom moves toward shore, waves, wind and boat propellers vaporize the toxin, driving it into the air. The resulting vapor can irritate a beach-goer's eyes, nose and throat.

Gulf lifeguards have fact sheets they hand out to visitors who ask about the tide. It warns people with conditions such as asthma or emphysema to avoid beaches plagued by red tide.

The trouble is, no one can predict when a bloom will show up. That would require an extensive monitoring system of sensors throughout the Gulf. Today, only a few monitors are in place, and adding enough to predict and track red tide would cost tens of millions of dollars.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium has become an urgent-care center for animals poisoned by the bloom. Since August, it has been called to help more than 100 sea turtles. Now, aquarium workers are trying to rehabilitate eight turtles, including a 353-pound loggerhead named Percy.

Cianciolo, the aquarium's vet, said the algae paralyze turtles, making it impossible for them to surface and breathe. At the aquarium, they're kept in shallow pools to prevent them from drowning. The sickest are simply covered with wet towels because they can't lift their heads at all.

Percy can now raise his massive head, but he remains lethargic and must be fed by hand. Sam, the turtle one pool over, is in worse shape. He can't open his mouth, so workers must use a small plastic tool to pry his mouth open. Then they quickly shove bits of squid inside.

"They have to get their strength back," said Tammy Langer, who supervises the turtles' rehabilitation. "We can't release them until we know they can feed on their own."

They also have to wait until the bloom dissipates, and that could take several weeks.

"Our big question is, 'Is the red tide gone?' " Cianciolo said. "Until then, these guys stay with us."