The Red Tide that has been plaguing the Tampa Bay area in Florida is now causing fish kills in the ocean. The red tide has been causing very large fish kills in Tampa Bay for almost 3 weeks. Over 800 tons of dead marine life have been cleaned up so far, including Manatees, Dolphins, Sea Turtles, and large and small fish. The cities of Tampa and St Petersburg, Florida are having a hard time keeping up with the onslaught of dead marine life.
The smell from the red tide and the dead marine life is almost unbearable and burns the nose and throat and can also cause skin to itch and burn. Despite the smell and the unsightliness, some people are still going to the beach, and even going in the water.
The red tide is caused by the dinoflagellate (a type of algae) K. Brevis. It occurs naturally in the water and feeds of nutrients in the water. Wastewater, fertilizers, and other pollutants can cause red tide blooms to be more severe and last longer than what might be natural.