Sarasota Red Tide
 

Today is July 1, 2005. Any updates/forecasts to the Red Tide situation?
Children have respiratory problems and traveling to Lido Beach Area end of July.
Any comments would be helpful.

I was there last weekend and had no trouble. Saw a very few dead fish but it seemed they'd been there a while, maybe 3 on all of So. Lido.

Since then, they've had a lot of thunderstorms and rain -- I'm guessing much has been washed away, but you can check Mote Marine's website for the most up-to-date info. http://www.mote.org/index.php?src=ge...0Tide%20Update

What is a Red Tide?

Red tide = a "bloom" of toxins released from a particular kind of marine algae. They release stuff into the water that kills fish and into the air that humans breathe -- almost (but not quite) odorless, but causes coughing, watery eyes, other respiratory problems for those who are sensitive to it -- can be very serious for asthmatics.

How big of an area can it affect?

An enormous area. See the other thread about this on this board, also check that website.