Florida natural disaster: Algae causes mass die-off of sea creatures

Status: 07/29/2021 00:48 a.m

Florida is experiencing a natural disaster on a stretch of coast about 250 kilometers long. Hundreds of tons of dead fish, crabs and sea turtles are washed ashore. The reason for the mass extinction is a toxic alga that has gotten out of control.

By Stefanie Germann, ARD Washington

Every day, a reporter from the local TV station flies in a helicopter over the Florida coast. Below him: the sea, reddish in places, and dead fish. Hundreds of tons of dead fish washed up on the beach.

“What we see here,” he says, “are excavators and clearing vehicles that tip the masses of carcasses into large containers.” In addition, the helicopter camera shows small people trying to make the snow-white sand presentable for visitors with rakes.

Natural disaster over a distance of around 250 kilometers

Florida is experiencing a natural disaster on a stretch of coast about 250 kilometers long. Boats plow through a thick carpet of dead fish, crabs and sea turtles. Here and there a metre-high bloated manatee drifts.

“It breaks my heart as a sailor and as a person,” says this fisherman as he pulls a dead dolphin out of the water. Another clearly struggles to hold back his tears. “I see only death everywhere instead of the beauty of nature. Only death everywhere!”

Dead fish containers at Bay Vista Park in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Image: AFP

Red algae out of control

The reason for the mass extinction is a poisonous alga. In Florida, the “red tide” is an annual phenomenon and – actually – not uncommon. Records of this date back to 1840. But this year, the alga is out of control. Especially in the Tampa area. Fishermen speak of a “disaster” and a horror scenario.

According to the state animal protection agency, the algae are up to 17 times more concentrated than the maximum value ever measured. These algae are microscopic – tiny cells that produce toxin. When a wave hits the algal cell, it disintegrates and releases its deadly toxin. If it gets airborne, it attacks the respiratory tract. Please keep windows and doors closed, warn the coastal towns, and please do not walk the dog on the beach.

More and more people are protesting on the streets because “their homeland is dying,” as they say. They say they have to cough, the stench is acrid, it smells of fermented fish and chemicals. Many are stunned that Republican Governor Ron de Santis has still not declared a state of emergency

Reason for the mass death of fish, crabs and sea turtles is a poisonous alga.

Image: AP

“Please help!” Appeals the mayor of a coastal town. But de Santis refuses. There is enough money for this algal bloom season, it is already priced in. All other discussions about it are political.

State of emergency would deter tourists

A state of emergency would mean, on the one hand, that Florida could take advantage of state aid. On the other hand, tourists would stay away. Thus, one of the most important sources of income threatens to dry up. Economy beats environment – that’s the way it is in Florida.

Critics accuse de Santis of playing down the “Red Tide” because he wants to be re-elected next year. And who wants to sacrifice the financially powerful voters for a few dead fish in conservative Florida?

Leak in the chemical tank of a fertilizer plant

Environmentalists and fishermen say the main culprit for this algae nightmare is the environmental mess tolerated by de Santis. In March, a chemical tank leaked at the Piney Point fertilizer plant. The basin was drained – and up to 1500 million liters of phosphate broth, ammonia and nitrate flowed directly into Tampa Bay.

“We finally need laws that prohibit the poisoned water from being dumped into the sea,” says one fisherman, “until then it’s we who have to deal with the dead fish.”

Whether such environmental laws in Florida ever come? Local media are already reporting again about residents splashing in the sea – with nose clips against the sharp smell of carcasses. Previously, in the early hours of the morning, the clearing vehicles had carted away the dead animals, people were fair to the sand – everything is financially covered by Governor de Santis, who, among other things, provided 25 million dollars for this.