Red Tide at Seagrove??

[aquaticbiology]

Not having read this whole thread...someone may have already asked this question.... however...

why is it in my 50+ years at grayton beach I never heard of or experienced Red Tide until recently. I'm thinking it is because no one was there when Red Tide was and now people are there ALL the time. Ya think? Scientific information anyone? I also never saw Love Bugs until the last few years. I'm sure my Grandaddy could give me the answer.

consider yourself fortunate for having missed the singlemost nasty thing the beach has to offer - and its getting worse every year - even more hurricanes and red tide and shark attacks - I've seen love bugs many, many times, even back in the 70's and 80's - you must usually have come before in the winter or been even more fortunate than you imagine - any florida car with a pitted front bumper will attest to their tenacity - the warming of the oceans brings out the hurricanes and red tide, and the warming of the air brings out the love bugs

global warming is now considered a fact of life and there's worse to come: http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=4936

old data on red tide (back to 99 - before that you have to use printed material):
http://research.myfwc.com/features/category_sub.asp?id=4842

 

[Kurt]

October 25 - Joy Brown with The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) and Scott Jackson with The Okaloosa County - University of Florida Extension Service will present a "Lunch - Time" education program at the CBA Office. They will provide a general introduction to the biology and life history of the red tide organism, along with the current situation in Choctawhatchee Bay and our Gulf Beaches. The speakers will also highlight new strategies practiced by our watershed residents that protect and benefit Bay and Gulf water quality.
CBA Office at the Mattie Kelly Estate, 4141 Indian Trail, Destin FL
Registration cost is $8.00, which includes a catered box lunch with drink.
INFO/REGISTRATION: Okaloosa County Extension Office, 850-689-5850
Presentation materials and information will also be provided on-line at the
conclusion of the event at http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu for those not able to attend.

 

[aquaticbiology]

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast30aug_1.htm?list540459

"The new study shows that these clouds fertilize the water off the West Florida coast with iron. Plant-like bacteria use that iron to set the stage for red tides. When iron levels go up, these bacteria, called Trichodesmium, fix nitrogen in the water, converting it to a form usable by other marine life. The addition of biologically usable nitrogen in the water makes the Gulf of Mexico a friendlier environment for toxic algae."

add iron-rich well-water or lots of iron/steel metal (seawalls) and look out!

 

[JB]

I just got back from a weekend at Sandestin and I'm not sure it's completely gone. While the Gulf looked relatively clear, my wife and I both suffered from head congestion and sore throats all weekend. We talked to some other folks with similar symptoms.

I'm afraid it's going to take some cold weather to kill whatever blooms remain in the area.

 

[Beach Runner]

The 10/18 redtide update had no findings in NW Florida! Woo-hoo!

 

[ktmeadows]

The 10/18 redtide update had no findings in NW Florida! Woo-hoo!

:clap_1:

 

[steele mama]

consider yourself fortunate for having missed the singlemost nasty thing the beach has to offer - and its getting worse every year - even more hurricanes and red tide and shark attacks - I've seen love bugs many, many times, even back in the 70's and 80's - you must usually have come before in the winter or been even more fortunate than you imagine - any florida car with a pitted front bumper will attest to their tenacity - the warming of the oceans brings out the hurricanes and red tide, and the warming of the air brings out the love bugs

global warming is now considered a fact of life and there's worse to come: http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=4936

old data on red tide (back to 99 - before that you have to use printed material):
http://research.myfwc.com/features/category_sub.asp?id=4842

We spent at least a month out of every summer at Grayton and never heard of it or experienced it. I am so glad to say! Everything shut down the day after Labor Day so maybe that's is when it got bad. We would come back for Christmas break and then Spring Break. Never had Love Bugs bothering me at the beach either. A few snakes and other wild animals, however.

 

[Smiling JOe]

We spent at least a month out of every summer at Grayton and never heard of it or experienced it. I am so glad to say! Everything shut down the day after Labor Day so maybe that's is when it got bad. We would come back for Christmas break and then Spring Break. Never had Love Bugs bothering me at the beach either. A few snakes and other wild animals, however.

Love Bugs have not been bothering us. Mostly, they hang out in the roads and bother others coming down, by splattering all over the vehicles. Too bad it is not the Dog and Deer Flies getting splattered.

 

[Beach Runner]

10/21 Update:
"NORTHWEST FLORIDA
A Florida red tide continues in northwest Florida and into Alabama. Concentrations of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, remain patchy in bay areas from Escambia County to Wakulla County. Highest concentrations this week were found in St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County. Fish kills were reported from Choctawhatchee Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, and St. Joseph Bay. Commercial shellfish harvesting continues to be affected. Check with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture for the most up-to-date information regarding shellfish area closures."

 

[TreeFrog]

It's been unusually obnoxious yesterday and today, with the wind blowing from the south. Even my dogs are coughing. Happy hour tonight at Bud & Alley's sounded like the respiratory wing at a hospital. It's easily visible in the water.