Wildlife

Red tide bloom moves in on Florida

A monstrous red tide bloom, the largest seen in Florida since 2006 is advancing on the state's beaches. It has already killed thousands of fish in the Gulf of Mexico, and officials are now concerned about health risks if it washes ashore.

The patchy bloom has spread from the Panhandle to the central Tampa Bay region. It measures about 80 miles long by 50 miles wide. Right now, it is 40 to 90 miles offshore, but is expected to hit Florida beaches over the next two weeks.

Red tides in the Gulf of Mexico were the single leading cause of death for 276 manatees in 2013, with most of the deaths occurring off Ft.Myers, Florida. The toxic algae settle on sea grasses that manatees eat, and the toxins affect the nervous systems, stopping respiration and causing them to drown.

The red tide can be harmful to humans too. Eating contaminated oysters and other kinds of shellfish can cause serious medical problems. The blooms can cause eye irritations as well as respiratory problems, and people with chronic respiratory diseases should be extra careful.