West Coast Florida Red Tide
 

I've been on west coast Florida in the Venice area for five weeks and have never seen the red tide problem as bad as it is this year. Most days, beach attendance is not an option as the respiratory problems are oppressive and the dead fish add to the problem by their presence and stench.
This ranges from north of Sarasota to south of Boca Grande and is a real problem.
We had two couples come down as weekly guests who left early because of the physical problems they encountereed.
I don't think anyone has a solution to the problem but I think a little more honesty from Chambers of Commerce in the area would be helpful to those looking for the idyllic Florida experience for their hard earned vacations.
I paid large money for three beachfront months and I really wish I was back in Maine.

Red Tide is no secret. It is in the papers whenever it hits. But it's a local story. It's here in our papers north of you, but it's not in the papers back in Maine because they don't care about it. Nobody really cares about red tide anywhere until it's a problem, such as it is for you now.

I've heard it's particularly bad this year, causing lots of itchy eyes and coughing. I was at the beach today in Treasure Island and it has not hit up here...yet. It usually moves up or down the beaches.

It will not last three months. But it might last for a few days. You should chill and it will pass. This is mother nature and there isn't a thing the Chamber of Commerce can do about it. Take some day trips away from the beach, is what I'd advise.

I agree that it is horribly annoying and would totally ruin a beachfront vacation. When it hits here in Naples, I can't get within a block or two of the beach without coughing.

But what do you suggest? Should all the chambers of commerce start telling people to stay away from Florida all together? There is no way to predict the outbreaks. Fortunately we haven't had a single outbreak yet this year in Naples. Should the Chamber here have told people not to come this winter just in case we would have an outbreak? It is even easier to predict the weather than it is to predict red tide.

I'm sorry that it has ruined your vacation, but what are you suggesting should have been done?

Roy, have you had Red Tide for the entire 5 weeks???? Is it still bad? If so,
I feel for you & for all of the people who will be arriving this week & next for Spring Break. When do you return to Maine? I guess all that the COC can do is advise people that Red Tide is a "possibility". But, as Patrick has pointed out, we never know when & how long. It's unpredictable. Obviously, you were aware of the possibility b/c you said you "have never seen the Red Tide problem as bad as it is this year." Bottom line: Knowing what you now know, will you go back next year?

I worked on the red tide problem for two years as a sabbatical from my regular profession. In some ways it is a natural progression of the water in the gulf (or anywhere else) but now that it occurs with regularity in cooler waters, it is a sign that the initiating cause is probably nutrient run off. (Nutrient is one of those vaguely neutral words for various forms of sewage)

Better care of the water discharged from boats, water treatment plants, run off from golf courses and storm water returns and the effluent that is called the Mississippi river would reduce this problem.

LMF

I don't think anyone has a solution to the problem of black flies, but I think a little more honesty from the Maine Chambers of Commerce would be helpful to those looking for the idyllic Maine experience for their hard earned vacations. :D

LilMsFoodie: Is it possible that the swarm of hurricanes is partly responsible for this year's severe outbreak? All that rain, flushing all those "nutrients" (argh) and fertilizers, etc. into the Gulf?

"Red tide is formed when Karenia brevis, a microscopic algae, reproduces at an explosive rate, forming a bloom. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are known to fuel red tide, which can cause breathing problems in people living near the coast."

Source: http://www.tampabaylive.com/stories/...7redtide.shtml

Hi,
For a good resource on the latest on the red tide in the Sarasota through Naples area, check out www.marinelab.sarasota.fl.us. Click on the red tide update on the right.

Yes, it is very bad. We live in Englewood and had a dead manatee wash ashore on the intercoastal on Saturday. We were told by Mote Marine and the FL Marine Patrol that there were 11 dead manatees between Manatee and Charlotte County on Saturday. Not a word in the paper. I have to believe at least some of them are red tide related. Very sad.

This is possibly the worst year for "Red Tide" and most of us are sad that you had to experience this on your Three month vacation. But do you really think that any of us who own homes down here "enjoy" having the Red Tide? Of course not - we don't care to have our time here on our beloved beaches ruined with all the coughing and red, watering eyes.

I feel sad that this has occurred during your three months but it hasn't been a constant problem since January - there have been many great beach-walking days. And just think about it - how many snowfalls have they had in Maine while you've been here? I know they've had three in the Washington DC area since January so I would imagine you've had a couple more. Certainly we can't say that "Red Tide" is worse than 10 inches of snow and all the accidents and problems that snow causes.

I just had the nicest walk on the beach Saturday, Sunday and today and now signs of "Red Tide".

Sorry

Make that "NO" signs of red tide.

I'm also curious if you came down for your vacation and it was amazingly colder than normal or if we had very unusual rains day after day, would you also say that the Chambers of Commerce should be posting warnings? Like the weather, Red Tide is a natural phenomenon and there's not much anybody can do about it or to plan for it.

I'm supposed to vacation on Ft. Myers Beach for a week beginning March 31st. Is red tide still expected to be at a high level then?

No way to know. Not much red tide now. The beaches are lovely and clean. Hopefully weather will be wonderful and warm. LMF

i'm heading to naples on 4/1 - first beach vacation in a while. i'm concerned about the red tide. i understand this year is especially bad, but how long does it usually last? Thanks in advance...

Naples beaches had no red tide last week. My niece and I walked the beach at Naples Pier and it was perfect. There is no way to predict this algae bloom and where or when it will occur. It comes onshore irregularly so there can be a nasty outbreak and 10 miles away, no sign at all. LMF

Arrrgggghhhhh! Help! It's RED TIDE!!!! HELP ME!!!! I'm being BOILED ALIVE!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiieeeeee.

TG: I'm guessing you're making light of Red Tide, most likely because Floridians are tired of being asked about it. But I have to say, it's no laughing matter if you happen to have a respiratory problem. There can be no visable signs of Red Tide and people can still experience distress because it is airborne.

It's a valid concern even if there is no way possible to predict an occurance. Just my 2 cents.

thanks LilMs. that is helpful. but i also am just curious about how long a bloom generally lasts - 2 months, 3 months, 6 months?...

I'm not really making light of it, I'm trying to put it in perspective. It is a nuisance. And for a very very very small percentage of Florida tourists it will be an issue. For a larger percentage of this small percentage, it will be a health issue. For a larger percentage of this small percentage, it will spoil their trip as there is nothing enjoyable about it if you are coughing, or if you have to walk along a beach with dead fish.

No one can tell anyone what's going to be happening with this odd bloom of red tide, which has shown up unseasonably (it generally happens in Sept). If I tell the poster all is well then that will be what he wants to hear but I am only telling him what he wants to hear.

What he needs to know is he should be prepared and have a back-up plan. He might have to go to St. Petersburg instead of Sarasota and make a last minute change in his plans. The alternative is being in Newark or Boston or wherever these snowbirds are coming from. And believe me, there are many many people right now packing our streets, enjoying red tide-free beaches, so I think the warmth and the shining sun are the big draw, and that he should come with that in mind.

Sorry if that reality isn't what he/she would want to hear but I'm not the chamber. This one's out of anybody's hands.

TG:
Unfortunately, I would agree with the original post that said that tourists should be somehow notified about Red Tide. If not Chamber of Commerce, than hotels by the time of booking. I am in the pretty bad situation now , when reservation to Siesta key hotel is done along with plane tickets. My son has some respiratory problem and I will not risk coming to the area where he can have problem. My bad luck, I forgot to check the information, and at the time of reservation nobody suggested, of course, that there is red tide for weeks already. In November of 2003 I lost money by canceling reservation in Sundial Beach Resort. Then I asked Sales Person directly if there is a problem with red tides. The answer was - no problem at all. We changed destination to East Coast. nevertheless. Our friend, young healthy man was coughing for couple of months after being at Sanibel at the time of red tide.
I understand that locals are not in the best situation , but it is the area where you live . Maybe it would be fair to notify vacationers about such problem at the time of booking. Now, I am trying to find alternative. I will lose money paid for reservation and it is hard to find something comparable in short time on East Coast.
Sorry, but it is tough, we were planning this vacation for months , finally I found something suitable , now I have to cancel.

Whoa, wait a minute! Why "must" you cancel? I hope you realize that unless you are directly (within 1/4 miles let's say) of actual red tide, there is really absolutely no effect at all. And a good strong offshore breeze for about two days will push the tide out to sea.

This is the very first time I've EVER heard of anyone having lasting effects from red tide. It's only been reported (that I've ever heard) as having an effect while in direct contact with the red tide. Symptoms disappear within 24 hours after exposure. Unless you are asthmatic or suffer from some respiratory illness, I think you are way over-reacting, LI8. You do realize that even if your hotel beach has a red tide outbreak, you can walk or drive maybe a mile north or south and find unaffected areas, right?

Just as a hotel would never say "hey your reservation is in the middle of hurricane season, do you want to reconsider?", they'll never tell you "hey there may or may not be a red tide bloom while you're here"...

Anyone who has ever sat on the beach during or after red tide will understand about cancelling. RT is completly noxious, irritating and far-reaching. People in neighborhoods miles from the beaches report sneezing, itching, congestion during the weeks RT is present, and for two or more weeks afterward. Enough of the boosterism, out with the truth. Heed Tandoori. Best to stay away during periods of RT. By the way, the west coast is thankfully free of that pest.

You know , I am not overreacting . BTW , hurricane season is known by everybody. But , red tide is not known , at least here in NY area. I spoke to my neighbor yesterday.She is moving to Florida East Coast in a month and was graduated from Universty of Miami. I asked her about red tide. She's never heard about it. Just to compare... knowledge about hurricane and red tide.
I was doing my research , and local newspaper has information that suggest people stay inside their houses , because of that smell. My understanding - the issue is not a smell, but toxins that irritate the respiratory system.
I do not want to sound too cautious but when I scared that my 3 year old could possibly have a health problem, I would rather cancel , than go. Also , now it looks like a lottery, it could be bad, it could be not, but I have just one week of vacation and wish to spend it on the beach not somewhere 1/4 miles from it. The hotel I rented is right on the beach, by the way

sorry , if I sound too pessimistic.

To set the record straight, RED TIDE is an east coast AND west coast phenomenon. Sorry but stop that smiling, smiling. In fact, it is a world-wide problem. And it can be off-shore but not have any affects along the shoreline.

No one will be able to tell you anything. YOu will have to show up to find out: 1) if there is red tide onshore where you're booked, and 2) if it will be a problem for you in particular. There is no red tide litmus test. And it can be not here one day, and here the next.

FYI, there is NO problem with red tide in the Tampa/St. Pete area at all RIGHT NOW. So ya'll come. But if you want a guarantee then good luck. The only thing I can tell you is that I've lived in Florida for 40 years and have never had any problems with red tide, either with it affecting my plans or trip to the beach, or with it affecting my health. And I happen to have allergies. So do what you want, there is nothing to protect you from your fears. And you will not know a thing unless you show up and find out. And if you show up and there is a problem then I would work it out with the hotel.

Relatives in the St. Petersburg Beach area complained last September when the tide swept though. Kept them off the beach for two weeks they said. Lots of coughing and scratchy throats. We do not have that in southern Calif. where we work.

LI8, when is your trip?
Here is an update for the Sarasota area, unfortunately it's dated March 18th, I imagine they'll update this Friday as well...however it does report info for exact areas.

http://www.floridamarine.org/feature...e.asp?id=12373

I understand how you feel, and you're right, it's much rarer than hurricanes. Which is why I don't want you to incur the costs of cancelling your trip without being pretty certain of what you'll find. I guess what I'm saying is that I'd recommend waiting until about three days before you travel (if possible) before cancelling. It is that fickle, could be gone overnight...I've lived at the beach for over 20 years, and there have been less than ten times when red tide has occurred, and it's usually NOT this time of year...best of luck to you!

U can get daily red tide updates @
www.marinelab.sarasota.fl.us . This is the Mote Marine Lab located in Sarasota. Sorry, it says red tide still present, though patchy.

suggest you call someone knowledgable down there and find out. Doubt anybody can cancel a vacation a day beforehand.

Maybe someone can answer a few questions about red tide for me. Does it affect people randomly, or does it seem to affect people with other allergies more? If I have seasonal allergies (hay fever), for instance, am I more likely to be affected, or does it affect everyone?

How long does a bloom usually last? day, weeks, no way to tell?

When people talk about dead fish on the beach, are we talking a few here and there, or by the wheelbarrow full? Or does it depend on the length of the bloom?

And finally (really stupid question coming) is anything actually red? Can you see red tide, or just feel its effects?

Sorry for my ignorance. Thanks

Buttercup, officially the answer would be that those "with respiratory problems" definitely are more affected. However my husband always notices it before I do (a tickle in the back of his throat before he walks over the dune onto the beach) and yet I am the "nose" in the family and do get hay fever. He does not.

No way to tell how long a bloom will last. Sometimes they are large (miles)and float outwards to sea so that you don't notice them, think they're gone. A stiff wind for a day can bring it back onshore.

After a week there will definitely be "some" dead fish on the beach. I have only seen "wheelbarrows full" once in 20 years on Treasure Island, and it was more the strength/saturation than the length of time.

It looks vaguely red if it's intense concentration. Usually you cannot tell at all by looking, only by smell and that tickle in your throat.

LMF would you agree?

Here's a link about bad outbreaks in Maine:
http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=806

Here's another about outbreaks in Africa:
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/Envfacts/redtides/

L18,
Based on your concerns, and desire to have a carefree and fun vacation, I would cancel for SW FL and move your vacation to a different location. This is a day to day event, as far as effects on those on the coast. I've lived here (Sarasota County) for 16 yrs. and this has been a long lasting and bothersome bloom.

In the grand scheme of things, it's not that big a deal, but for someone counting on a week of fun it really is on again off again with the red tide this year.

Strange , my last message has dissapeared, or maybe I did not post it.
Thank you all :
I am really trying to find a nice spot on East Coast week of 4/11 instead of Siesta Key. If somebody can suggest something nice and not expensive for a family I would greatly appreciate it.
I do not want sound alarmed , but one week it is just one short week. I live close to New Jersey Shore. If it is someting weather wise of some other consern I just change plans. If I fly from NJ to Tampa for a week of vacation it is much diffirent.

We have red tide on a somewhat regular basis in New England. Although it affects seafood sales, especially shellfish, I don't remember it being a big deal. Everyone just goes to a different beach. I have never heard of people getting sick on the beach and certainly not away from the beach. Dead fish can occur from a variety of causes. IMHO greenheads are a much bigger problem but I would never cancel a vacation because of either. The job of the Chamber of Commerce is to promote the area. If the city, county, or state wants to post a warning - fine. That is not the province of the Chamber.

Everyone has given as much information as exists on red tide. It's a naturally occuring algae bloom caused by excessive nutrients in water. So far, it has been impossible to predict the blooms. They do observe satellite photos I believe with heat screening to try to discern where it might possibly occur. Most often it does not come on shore.

Increased development is causing a change in environment and climate all over the world. LMF

The bloom has really hit Longboat Key this week and, unfortunately, it's Easter week. I've never had much problem with the Red Tide and for some reason I am this year.

Yes, there is a reddish cast to the water as our gulf is normally a beautiful bluish green shade. And yes, we also have a number of dead fish coming ashore. Look for other activities and other locations to walk on the beach. Bradenton's Coquina Beach is a mere couple miles north of us and has no signs of the tide.

And please Have a great vacation.

I've experienced red twice while on vacation in the Sanibel area. The first time I experienced it was "supposedly" the worst case of red tide ever on Sanibel. I can honestly say that I had never seen anything like it, and I hope I never do again. It was absolutely sad and disgusting. I don't have any respiratory problems, but, boy, did I find it hard to breath. Not to mention that the amount of dead sea life was something I could never imagine. Our beach vacation became a pool vacation, and lucky for us we were staying just over the causeway on the mainland. It was very disappointing. But, again, it was considered the worse case...and we looked into many other beaches in the area and they all had the same story!

The 2nd time we experienced red tide, it was at the end of the outbreak. The beaches at the southern end of the island (lighthouse beach) were still recovering; however, a drive down to SanCap beach provided us with a lovely, red tide-free day in the beautiful water.

I think the well meaning residents of Florida find it to be an annual nuisance and it probably doesn't affect them they same way it would a tourist. I can assure you that if you traveled to Buffalo during the winter and complained about it, I would wonder what the big deal was!

last friday's (3/25) update on a red tide monitoring site said that red tide was still "not present" in Naples. Just FYI, though if anyone can confirm, that would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!

As of my beach walk this morning in Naples -- there is NO sign of red tide, rishi.