Red Tide Still a
Problem in Florida Panhandle
October 13, 2005 — By Associated Press
DESTIN, Fla. — Red tide, which has
beachgoers complaining of alergy-like symptoms while causing fish kills
and closing oyster harvesting areas, remains scattered across the
Florida Panhandle, state officials said on Wednesday.
Lt. Stan Kirkland, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, said fewer complaints were coming in, but the
latest tests show the toxic algae remains a problem in the region, even
though it is spotty.
"It's still here," he said. "Nothing's changed."
Not every part of the Panhandle is affected the same way, but water in
the region still is warm and conducive to the algae bloom, said Jeremy
Lake, spokesman for the commission's research laboratory at St.
Petersburg.
Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the Walton County Tourist
Development Council, said his county, just east of Destin, was in good
shape.
"People are back out on the beaches," he said.
Red tide, which is toxic to many species of marine life, causes
respiratory problems including runny nose, itchy eyes and a sometimes
severe cough in humans.
The bloom began in January off St. Petersburg and has spread from there
along the coast, reaching the Panhandle shortly after Hurricane Katrina
crossed the gulf, Lake said. The storm, which made landfall in Louisiana
on Aug. 29, may have helped it spread to the Panhandle, he said.
Source: Associated Press |