Red tide spreads to Miami-Dade, St. Lucie counties, as state investigates fish kill in PBC

UPDATE 6:25 a.m.: Red tide has spread to Miami-Dade and St. Lucie counties.

Miami Dade’s regulatory and economic resources department tweeted this morning that public beaches north of Haulover Inlet are closed.

Red tide confirmed in @MiamiDadeCounty. In abundance of caution, public beaches north of Haulover Inlet are closed until further notice. Statement to follow.
— MiamiDade County RER (@MiamiDadeRER) October 4, 2018

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission also received reports of fish kills in St. Lucie County and reported that low concentrations of the algae that produces red tide were detected there.

Original story: Palm Beach County officials steeled themselves Wednesday as reports of dead fish from Boca Raton to Jupiter crackled over radios and through phone lines, hoping if the deaths were red tide-related, they would end at that rung of the food chain.

It was the first time since the toxic Karenia brevis algae was confirmed Monday in county waters that fish began washing ashore. By the end of the day, a team of state biologists was on the way to MacArthur Beach State Park after scores of dead fish were found rolling in the frothy whitewater and trapped in the wrack line.

A press release announcing the fish kill investigation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was quick to point out the DEP has already doled out $10 million to counties facing red tide.

At Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation Department Wednesday, the discussion was pragmatic — how to handle the bodies, what tools to use, what kind of protective gear is needed.

PHOTO GALLERY: Rare red tide hits Palm Beach County

While the Gulf coast is versed in red tide protocol, it’s not standard procedure for southeast Florida.

“I don’t think we’re looking at the same level yet like what you saw on the west coast,” said Eric Call, director for Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation Department. “I hope we don’t see that. I don’t think so.”

Most county beaches remain closed, with the exceptions of Phil Foster Park, Peanut Island and Ocean Ridge Hammock. The county made 50 vinyl signs warning of red tide that it planned to have posted at beaches by the end of Wednesday. Medical masks were distributed to beach staff.

Municipalities make their own decisions about beach closures.

“This is all a moving target,” county Aquatics Director Laurie Schobelock said.

A federal harmful algae bloom forecast is predicting “moderate” red tide conditions through at least Friday. That means the general public with no health concerns could feel mild effects from the toxin — coughing, scratchy throat and watery eyes.

With big waves from Hurricane Leslie hitting the coast and east breezes from a high pressure system, the Karenia brevis toxin is being dispersed into the air and blown ashore.

“It got me good this morning,” said Delray Beach resident Harvey Latidus, who was walking his dog near Atlantic Avenue when his eyes started watering and he felt the red tide itch in his throat. “It’s bad.”

Fish collected Wednesday will be tested for Karenia brevis by FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Because it’s still turtle-nesting season, fish cleanup efforts must be approved by the DEP.

Eleven water samples taken from the Palm Beach Inlet to the Jupiter Inlet tested positive Monday for low to moderate concentrations of red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

J. William Louda, a research professor for Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said Karenia brevis cell levels of 1 million per liter — the high-end of the moderate range — would “most likely be enough” to kill fish.

“We’re aware that we have dead fish washing up on the beaches countywide at this point,” said Deborah Drum, Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management director. “We just became aware of it today, but it is not uncommon when you have red tide.”

The carnage on the west coast this past summer included tons of dead fish, manatees, dolphins, turtles and birds. This year, 676 manatees have died statewide, about 50 percent higher than the five-year-average.

Red tide produces a toxin that affects the nervous system. It can work its way up the food chain from tiny snails on sea grasses eaten by manatees, or in fish eaten by turtles, birds or bigger fish.

In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared dolphin deaths off the southwest coast of Florida an “unusual mortality event,” which are deaths that are unexpected, significant, and demand “immediate response.”

As of Sept. 27, 65 dolphins had died or been stranded in the event.

“Once you start seeing a progression up the food chain, the risks to the next level up become greater,” said Dale Gawlik, director of Environmental Sciences at Florida Atlantic University. “You become more concerned that the things that eat fish need to start being watched.”

It’s believed the red tide was exacerbated in the Gulf of Mexico by heavy rains from Hurricane Irma and the record-setting May rainfall that washed nutrient-loaded water into near-shore Gulf waters.

Its rare journey to the east coast was likely made on the Florida Current around the Keys and into the Gulf Stream.

Call said he’s experienced three red tides in his 35 years in Palm Beach County, with this year the worst.

“On the west coast, they are used to this,” Call said. “This is not our norm.”

To report a fish kill, call the FWC hotline at 800-636-0511.

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