Red tides return to Florida

Context: An unwelcome visitor is once again killing fish and causing issues for beachgoers along Florida’s Gulf Coast. A red tide bloom has been spotted in several areas near the shore in recent days.
Key Issue

• Florida has been battling outbreaks of red tide, caused by the algae Karenia brevis, for several years.
• This year's bloom may have been aggravated due to the release of contaminated water into Tampa Bay earlier.
• Tampa Bay, arm of the Gulf of Mexico, indenting the west coast of Florida, US.

About Karenia Brevis 

• It is a type of algae commonly known as ‘Red Tide’ and Harmful Algal Bloom(HABs).
• It occurs when colonies of algae simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. 
• The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal.

Concerns 

• HABs are a national concern because they affect not only the health of people and marine ecosystems but also the 'health' of local and regional economies.

Mitigating Risks from HAB

• Multiple treatment of effluent: Simple treatment options are not effective; multiple treatment steps are typically needed to remove algae toxins.
• Nitrogen testing & modelling: N-Testing is a technique to find the optimum amount of fertilizer required for crop plants. It will reduce the amount of nitrogen lost to the surrounding area.
• Encouraging organic farming: Reducing the overuse of fertilizers in agriculture and encouraging organic farming can reduce the bulk flow of runoff and can be effective for reducing severe algal blooms.
• Reduction in nitrogen emission from vehicles and power plants.
• Reducing the use of phosphates as builders in detergents.

What are Algal Blooms?

• Algal blooms are dense layers of tiny green plants that occur on the surface of lakes and other bodies of water when there is an overabundance of nutrients (primarily phosphorus) on which algae depend.

Benefits 

• Not all algal blooms are harmful. Most blooms, in fact, are beneficial because the tiny plants are food for animals in the ocean.
• They are the major source of energy that fuels the ocean food web.