Red Tide & Easy Ways You Can Help

Local dolphins in the St. Johns River have been spotted with severe cases of skin lesions, indicating their immune systems are compromised. In these photos, a newborn calf is covered in lesions and also appears to have an orange algal-type mat growing on its rostrum (face) and dorsal fin. Unfortunately, this does not bode well for his/her survival. A similar algal-type mat was observed on resident adult dolphins at death.

​There have been several recent reports on the east coast (in addition to the Gulf) of people spotting dolphins, manatees, and other marine wildlife with growths and fungi on them. These growths are attributed to red tide, which is an algal bloom that produces toxins that can kill marine organisms, taint shellfish, cause skin irritations, and even foul air. They can also cause respiratory issues in children and elderly.
Algal blooms naturally occur, however, scientists, fishermen, and outdoors-people have noticed that they have been increasing in size, intensity, and persistence in recent decades. This is attributed to the increase of foreign nutrients in coastal waters – which causes the algae to grow at an unnaturally fast rate.  

I wanted to share some simple tips on identifying the algae and what you can do to help!
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If you spot an algae bloom (like the one pictured), you can quickly report it by dropping a pin on the App “Water Rangers” https://app.waterrangers.ca/

​Create a River Friendly Yard.

• Try to incorporate native plants into your yard. This way, your yard and lawn doesn’t require strong/frequent fertilizers (which are nutrient-rich, and ultimately runoff into the sewers, rivers, and oceans).
• Avoid pesticides and chemicals which are harmful to algae-eating fish, marine life, and insects.  
• Use cypress-free mulch. Many don’t realize that cypress trees form the majority of our coastal wetlands (which play a huge role in filtering water naturally). When you use cypress mulch, remember that much of that mulch comes directly from questionable companies that are logging through whatever unprotected wetlands they can access. Cypress trees take a minimum of 75-100 years to regrow into a mature tree.   
• Maintain your septic system and use water-efficient plumbing. This prevents wastewater from leaking and seeping into the surrounding area. Wastewater is full of nutrients for algae.  
  
  

Report pollution or a problem.
Whether you are in your car or boat or on foot, pay close attention to what is going on around you. Is dirt running off a construction site into a creek? Did you spot a fish kill or a broken pipe? Is someone illegally-dumping trash or pollution into a storm drain or directly into a river? Report these issues to your city works or state environmental agency (they should have a hotline).

Most importantly, keep children and pets away from blooms. Wash thoroughly if you have come into contact. And do not eat fish caught in bloom areas.