Last night, I ran into Robert Turpin, Escambia County’s Marine Resources manage . He said the Red Tide appears to be impacting the lion fish. Finally we can get rid of them.
Here is the press release on Red Tide:
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (DOH-Escambia) reminds all people to protect themselves and their families against Florida Red Tide exposure. At this time, moderate to high levels of the Red Tide organism are predicted to be present in Escambia County’s coastal waters from Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when the microscopic algae called Karenia brevis grow quickly, they can create blooms called Florida red tides that make the ocean appear red or brown. K. brevis produces powerful neurotoxins called brevetoxins, which can kill fish and other marine organisms. Florida red tides damage local fishing industries, shoreline quality and local economies.
Some people who swim among brevetoxins or inhale brevetoxins dispersed in the air may experience irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, as well as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. People with existing respiratory illness, such as asthma, may experience these symptoms more severely.
Red tide does not affect everyone who comes into contact with it and usually symptoms end when a person leaves the area or goes indoors. Avoid exposure by not swimming or boating in these areas. Never eat dead fish or other animals found washed up on shorelines. Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas — once a person leaves the red tide area, the symptoms usually go away. If symptoms do not subside, a person should contact their physician for assistance.
There are no long-term health effects from being exposed to Red Tide.