Florida Governor has introduced a state of emergency in seven districts

Florida Governor, Rick Scott, declared a state of emergency in some districts on Monday because of the red tide - an annual phenomenon that this year has reached a critical scale, killing nature and threatening public health.

Despite the fact that the red tide occurs every year, many environmental protection organizations claim that pollution has aggravated toxic algae blooms.

In the Scott statement, #18-221, the red tide was described as "a natural microscopic alga that was recorded along the Gulf Coast since 1840-s and occurs almost every year."

According to the governor’s statement, an emergency is introduced in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manate, Hillsboro and Pinellas counties.

“As southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continue to experience the devastating effects of red tide, we will continue to take an aggressive approach using every available resource to help our local communities,” Scott said in a statement.

An executive order signed by Scott will provide funding for local government and research agencies.

The Sarasota Marine Laboratory and Aquarium will receive 100 000 US dollars to fight the red tide, engaging more scientists, and also help local animal rescue efforts.

According to the statement, the funds will also be used to continue “enhanced water monitoring” to provide “scientists with the best data for the job.”

Florida's waters are affected by two different types of toxic algal blooms: red tide and an outbreak of freshwater algae, known as blue-green algae, which is caused by fertilizer runoff.

The red tide has spread throughout the Gulf of Mexico, drifting in water from the beginning of October. Stretching for about 150 miles (240 kilometers), this phenomenon affects communities from Naples in the south, the island of Anna Maria in the north and seems to be moving north.

These plants, especially phytoplankton, single-celled, can form dense, visible stripes on the surface of the water. Some phytoplankton species, such as dinoflagellates, contain photosynthetic pigments whose color varies from green to brown and red. They create the impression that the water has a reddish color or even pink, hence the name of the phenomenon.

Red flushes in Florida are associated with the production of natural toxins that lead to oxygen depletion or other dangerous effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most important effects of red tides are the death of marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals and other organisms associated with them.

Florida's red tides are especially dangerous for marine organisms because they produce the neurotoxin brevetoxin, the source of which is algae. Karenia brevis.

When marine inhabitants absorb the toxins secreted by algae, they affect their nervous system, marine inhabitants lose their orientation and sink. Then their decaying bodies can destroy entire marine ecosystems because decomposition reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, killing other animals in the area or forcing them to migrate to another place.

In some cases, people are also at risk due to algae. Red tide can be fatal for people with asthma or other respiratory problems.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Florida residents are asked not to go to the beaches because of toxic algae

Jellyfish stung more than 800 people on Florida beaches in three days

How scientists hope to solve the problem of world plastic pollution

15 interesting lessons in Key West

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.