Red Tide Wipes Out Fish In Robinson Preserve; Bloom Becoming Somewhat Patchier On SW FL Coast

[hatrack]

A generation of thousands of mullet died in the backwaters of Robinson Preserve after becoming trapped by a choking patch of red tide.

A school of the winter-spawning fish use the preserve bayou as a refuge, before they venture offshore in the Gulf, where they ball up and lay eggs before returning to the preserve. They appeared to have been caught by a flow of the harmful algae — which has been plaguing the region for more than a year — that quickly moved into Lower Tampa Bay earlier this week.

Three weeks ago, scientists were saying red tide — once a nearly continuous 150-mile band along Florida’s west coast, from Pinellas to Monroe County — had settled into a more typical bloom, patchy with intermittent onshore effects. Seasonal red tide is normally detected from August to December and typically ends in February or March.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported this week that red tide levels decreased in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Medium to high concentrations occurred in all counties from Pinellas County south to Collier County, with the exception of Manatee, which did not have high levels.

EDIT

https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20181206/red-tide-kills-generation-of-mullet-in-manatee-county-park

[greymattermom]

1. I cancelled my gulf reservations this year and went to the Bahamas.

I haven't seen any stories on the effect on tourism, but it must be huge.

[safeinOhio]

2. Red Tide Rick

is on it.