Article Courtesy of: Defenders of Wildlife

ST. PETERSBURG, FL NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that 1,003 manatees died since the start of 2021. The Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has claimed the lives of more than 10% of the estimated statewide population, including 20% of those on the Atlantic coast, shattering the previous statewide record of 830 deaths in 2013.

Manatees Died:

“Widespread pollution is destroying manatee habitat and starving them in the process,” said Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. “Without immediate action, this tragedy will continue to play out year after year, setting back decades of progress to recover this threatened species.”

Scientists are studying the causes of the UME, likely the result of several factors working in tandem with devastating results. Manatees are suffering due to compromised habitat and lack of food, phenomena fueled by overdevelopment, water pollution, and climate change-driven water temperature shifts.

With more than 21.5 million residents and growing, Florida is the third most populous state in the country. In recent years, a combination of agricultural, residential, and industrial runoff—exacerbated by lax enforcement of water quality laws and weak oversight of land development—has fueled algal blooms that have killed tens of thousands of acres of seagrass, starving manatees until they are weakened or die.

Manatees Died:

While the species has rebounded since its inclusion on the Endangered Species List in the 1970s, manatees remain extremely vulnerable to numerous threats, including habitat destruction, watercraft strikes, climate change and water pollution. Warming water temperatures and nutrient pollution favor the growth of harmful algae throughout much of the year. At the same time, extreme cold weather events intensified by climate change can also have chilling effects on the water, causing the manatees to develop cold stress and die.

CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE…

The post Manatees Died in 2021 appeared first on SAVE FLORIDA MANATEES.

Article Courtesy of: Florida Health

Algae are plant-like organisms that sustain marine life. They contribute to the food chain and to the oxygen that keeps water bodies healthy. But sometimes, when conditions are right—warm water and increased nutrients—certain algae can quickly grow and overpopulate. These foam, or scum-like masses are called blooms, and can be pushed to the shore by winds, waves, tides and currents. Some blooms release toxins that make ecosystems, animals and people sick: scientists call these harmful algae blooms or HABs (harmful algae blooms). In Florida, we find HABs along our saltwater, freshwater and brackish water bodies.

HABs are temporary and usually happen in late summer or early fall. They can last three to five months, sometimes longer, and can affect small and large areas.

As some HABs decay they release a bad odor. Hydrogen sulfide is one such foul smelling gas that is a naturally occurring, colorless product of decomposition. It can smell like rotten eggs. The human nose is very sensitive and can smell the unpleasant odor of hydrogen sulfide at very low levels. The Florida Department of Health completed testing in 2016 and 2018 for the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the air during HAB (harmful algae blooms) events. The results from both studies indicated very low, non-hazardous levels. The smell can cause respiratory irritation, but is not harmful to your health. If you are irritated by the strong odor or have breathing difficulties move away from the source of the smell. Symptoms should end a short time after the odor disappears or the exposure to the odor ends.

HAB (harmful algae blooms) species in the Gulf of Mexico.

Karenia brevis is Florida’s most common red tide organism. Dark red or brown, sometimes with a yellowish tint, this red tide produces brevetoxins that can kill marine animals, and make land animals and people sick. If you’ve been around red tide, you may have had the “red tide tickle”: the itchy throat and cough caused by breathing in brevetoxins that have been released into the air and water when wind and waves break open the cells of the algae.

SYMPTOMS?

Stay away from red tide. Even if you’re not prone to respiratory issues you should be careful: these toxins can cause breathing problems, and can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. Reactions to red tide are worse for people with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis or any chronic lung disease. If you have health issues, stay away from areas with red tide. Pets can become sick from red tide so keep them away from those areas, and contaminated marine animals and fish.

If you come into contact with red tide, wash off with soap and water. You can get relief from respiratory symptoms by being in an air-conditioned space. For people without asthma or chronic respiratory problems, over-the-counter antihistamines can help. If your symptoms don’t get better, see a doctor.

SWIMMING:

Don’t swim in or around red tide because the toxin can cause skin irritation, rashes and burning and sore eyes.

DEAD FISH:

Red tides can kill fish and other marine life—avoid contact and don’t swim or walk in these areas. Keep your pets away from these areas.

RED TIDE AND FISH:

Don’t harvest or eat distressed or dead fish (or any animals) from or near a red tide. Fish caught live and healthy can be eaten if filleted and rinsed thoroughly with fresh water.

RED TIDE AND SHELLFISH:

Check local harvesting status at Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, clams, oysters and scallops are filter feeders that can concentrate toxins—these and other shellfish, if harvested from red tide areas, can be contaminated with brevetoxins. The muscle of the scallop is free of toxin but the rest of the scallop is not (recipes using scallop muscle are safe to eat). Your safest choice is to not harvest or eat shellfish from affected areas.

You could suffer from Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP) if you eat contaminated shellfish. NSP symptoms include: nausea and vomiting; tingling of the mouth, lips and tongue; and slurred speech and dizziness. Neurological symptoms can progress to partial paralysis and respiratory problems.

Blue Green Algae:

In water bodies with blue-green algae, if people or animals splash or if boats create wakes, the cyanotoxins in the algae can release into the air. The toxins mix with water droplets and spray—that’s how people and animals can inhale the toxin. These toxins can’t pass through your skin easily so swallowing large amounts of contaminated water is what causes illness. This algae is blue, bright green, brown or red, and can have a strong odor like rotting plants. Pets can become sick from blue-green algae so keep them out of those areas and away from contaminated marine animals and fish.

SYMPTOMS?

Stay away from blue-green algae. For some people, blue-green algae can cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. People who are very sensitive to smells can have respiratory irritation. Sometimes, high exposures of toxin can affect the liver and nervous system.

Continue Reading the Complete Article…

The post Algae Blooms appeared first on SAVE FLORIDA MANATEES.