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| bay to left, hubby in yellow next to nest & lights which way do you think the hatchlings will crawl? they haven't much chance without our help [no flash was used for this photo as per turtle protocol] |
The Pinellas County crews are doing a heroic job of trying to keep our beach clean and fish free -- only a small lingering smell that catches in the throat.
We heard the worst of red tide locally (explained below) was last weekend whilst we were away -- Additional equipment (blue machine) was brought in and we had crews walking the beach. Yesterday there was still fishing offshore and the dredging for beach re-nourishment continues.
But by midday what is that white line on the sea coming into shore? Currents winds and tides move the red tide bloom around. Was this sight due to stronger new moon tides? The crews were off to investigate -- we cannot blame the East Coast Hurricane Florence currently pounding the Carolinas north of Florida
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| scoping it out with a gift from sis & staying off beach directly! |
A 'Beach Hazard' alert has been posted effective until Monday night.
We've been watching closely - 3 waves of dead fish were washed ashore in a 90 minute time period after lunch today and the cleanup crews had to start all over again! Fishing boats, now 're-purposed,' are out trying to scoop dead fish out of the water before they make shore.
That brownish-reddish water is red tide algal named karenia brevis which has been around for hundreds of years. Naturally occurring, but recently blooming out of control! Outside it's wiffy/smelly and leaves a bad taste in the mouth. We are thankful clean up crews still going strong at 7 pm tonight as we watch from behind closed windows and doors which are normally open to the Gulf breezes.
Red tide also sickens and kills large marine life - this bigger and long lasting bloom (around in southwest Florida since last November) has harmed over 200 sea turtles, 70 dolphins and many manatees to date.
The nest pictured in this post hatched and disoriented as predicted. Fortunately a Sea Turtle Tracker staff member was nearby and followed the protocol to get the hatchlings to the water safely.
ReplyDeleteRed tide 'ebbs and flows' (literally) and last night was so bad the STT on duty 'puked on the beach!' We are under a beach hazard statement with respiratory irritation and the stench is horrendous leaving a taste in the mouth, coughing, running eyes and making it hard to breath -- despite there being no sign of dead fish this afternoon. Unsurprisingly the beach is all but deserted.
Just attempted beach walk; although there are a few people out and no signs of dead fish or reddish/brown water, hubby and I still found red tide to irritate our throats & noses so headed back indoors. :-(
ReplyDeleteAfter a torrential downpour flooding the streets of St Petersburg Monday evening (24 Sept), shuffleboard was cancelled, and the red tide 'perfume' abated. We were able to open our windows again - no sign nor smell of dead fish here this week. Fingers crossed!
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