Red Tide

From time to time, Destin is affected by a natural phenomenon known as red tide. Red tide occurs when phytoplankton, tiny plant-like organisms, flourish in local waters. This phenomenon is called red tide because in extreme cases the water will take on a reddish-brown color. Large numbers of phytoplankton, known as blooms, can have ill effects on our marine environment, leading to the death of many marine animals, including fish and dolphins. 

The most common culprit for red tide in the Destin area is an organism known as G. breve. This organism does not usually cause harm to people, unless they eat shellfish infected with the G. breve toxin. During red tides, shellfish harvesting is closed in local waters to prevent such illness. Some people report respiratory irritation during red tides. People with sensitive skin may experience an itching sensation when swimming during red tide.

Red tides can make our usually beautiful, pristine environment very unpleasant. When fish kills occur, the fish carcasses will remain in the water for a week or two, resulting in a nasty odor. The Florida Marine Research Institute does regular sampling in our waters to determine if the red tide organism is present. Our red tide status can be found at the FMRI red tide web page. Click on the "Red Tide Current Status Information Page" link in the middle of the page.

Unfortunately, many people believe that red tides are getting more frequent and more severe over the years. A major contributing factor the the worsening of red tides in Choctawhatchee Bay is nutrient pollution. There are a variety of causes for nutrient pollution, including storm water runoff and agricultural runoff from plants and farms in Alabama. The Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed Partnership is conducting a study of the bay to determine the exact causes of the pollution and methods to correct and prevent it.

Current Red Tide Status Reports: 

http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/