All Clams on Deck

Harmful algal blooms are caused by several species of algae—from blue-green to red—and have been a thorn in the side of marine conservationists for decades. These toxic blooms, which can sometimes turn marine waters into a crimson soup (red tide), wreak havoc on marine life, leaving fish, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and birds gasping for breath. While red tides are a natural occurrence, modern society is responsible for the increase in both their severity and frequency. Nitrogen runoff from such human sources as Big Ag, factories, and sewage treatment plants enters our waters on land and eventually flows into the ocean. This overabundance of nutrients, paired with warm water, fuels these toxic tides by causing algae to multiply rapidly. Florida’s Gulf Coast has seen a sharp rise in red-tide incidents in recent years, but there’s a ray of hope shining through those red waters.