Tons of dead fish in Tampa Bay blamed on toxic red tide

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) An unusually large bloom of poisonous red tides is accused of massively killing fish in environmentally sensitive Tampa Bay, Fla.

Authorities say more than 600 tonnes (540 metric tonnes) of dead fish and other marine life have been collected in recent weeks along the St. Petersburg coastline. There is no immediate sign of relief, and some experts say the problem could persist for months.

The bay isn’t very happy right now, to say the least, said Robert Weisberg, professor of physical oceanography at the University of South Florida.

The prognosis isn’t that good, Weisberg told the Tampa Bay Times.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman told a press conference on Wednesday that state help was needed to fight the red tide. So far, no declaration of emergency has been received from Governor Ron DeSantis.

Right now it’s all about cleaning up, Kriseman said. It’s pretty awful. The smell sticks to you. In addition, there is the emotional toll of seeing dead animals wash day in and day out.

The red tide is a natural phenomenon that has been observed in the Gulf of Mexico since the time of the Spanish explorers, but which can be exacerbated by nutrients such as nitrogen. The presence of toxin-producing microorganisms of this magnitude in Tampa Bay is unusual, with some samples showing concentrations 10 to 17 times higher than what is considered a high level.

One potential cause is the leak in April of tens of millions of gallons of contaminated water from the former Piney Point fertilizer plant along the bay in neighboring Manatee County. Scientists have yet to identify the reason for the massive proliferation of the red tide, but said the leak was a prime suspect.

We have no reason not to link those two things, said Maya Burke, deputy director of the Tampa Bay Estuary program.

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