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Thank's guy's for the hit's & Slingah yur a smart Man,Here are some some fact's my Wife found.
THE FACTS:
WHAT IS RED TIDE? Red tide is the result of a massive multiplication (or "bloom") of tiny, single celled algae called Gymnodinium breve (pronounced, "Jim-no-din-ee-um-bre-vay"), usually found in warm saltwater, but which can exist a lower temperatures. It is a natural phenomenon, apparently unrelated to manmade pollution. In high concentrations, G. breve may create a brownish red sheen on the surface of the water; in other instances, it may look yellow green, or may not be visible at all. Some red tides have covered up to several hundred square miles of water. No one can predict when or where red tides will appear or how long they will last since they are affected by many variables such as weather and currents.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? G. breve blooms are initiated miles offshore of the Florida Gulf Coast, moving onshore with winds and ocean currents. Scientists believe that G. breve algae may enter a dormant state at some point in their life cycle, forming cysts which settle miles off the west coast of Florida in ocean bottom sediments creating a "seed bed" effect. They think that strong flows of warm water from the Gulf Stream may carry the algae up the East Coast and inshore to the Carolinas.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT HUMANS? Irritations of the eyes, nose, throat, tingling lips and tongue are common symptoms that often occur during red tides. Waves, wind and boat propellers in high concentrations of red tides disperse toxin particles into the air causing these problems for people along the shoreline. People suffering from severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as emphysema or asthma, should try to avoid red tide areas. Symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours once the exposure is discontinued.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT MARINE LIFE? G. breve produces potent neurotoxins. Filter feeding shellfish, such as oysters, clams, mussels and other bivalve mollusks, that consume G. breve concentrate the toxin in various organs. Whereas red tide toxins are deadly to fin fish, shellfish are uneffected. These toxins also are incorporated into the marine aerosol, which causes the respiratory irritation to people along the shore.
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What's Safe? What's Not?
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Shrimp, Crab, Scallops and Lobsters in red tides are SAFE to harvest and eat, since these shellfish do not accumulate the red tide toxin in the meaty or hard muscle tissue which we normally consume. It is NOT a good idea to eat liver, organs, or other soft tissue of shellfish.
The muscle or "hard" meat of freshly caught fin fish in red tides are SAFE to eat, provided the fish behave normally. Although no evidence of harmful effects in humans from contaminated fish have been reported, it is NOT a good idea to eat liver, organs or other soft tissues.
Oysters, Clams, Mussels, Mollusks, Whelks are UNSAFE to harvest & eat since they may accumulate red tide toxins in their tissues. This remains effective until the Department of Environmental Protection determines that the waters are clear of red tide & shellfish are free of red tide toxins, which may take several weeks after a red tide bloom is over.
Swimming & Enjoying the Gulf Beaches are fine for most people however, some people have reported skin irritation after swimming. However, respiratory irritation and fish kill are not always present during red tide outbreaks. Use common sense -- if the red tide bothers you, avoid the area. For current conditions along the Southwest Florida coast, check out the Red Tide Update page.
FMRI/FWC St. Petersburg, (727) 896-8626 / Charlotte County, (941) 255-0083
Sarasota County Health Department: (941) 954-2900
Mote Marine Laboratory: (941) 388-4441
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