The spread of the algae has caused several beach closures.
 |
| © Getty Images No Swimming Sign. (photo viaDarwin Brandis / iStock / Getty Images Plus) |
By Donald Wood, TravelPulse
Officials in Miami revealed Thursday blooms of red tide were discovered off beaches near Miami.
According to The Weather Channel, the toxic algae blooms are most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico, but the arrival of the red tide along the east coast has caused several public beaches to close.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said beaches north of Haulover Inlet would be closed, and officials in Palm Beach County confirmed scientists discovered red tide algae along the coastline at the end of September.
The toxic algae blooms can not only cause skin irritation to swimmers, but it can also be blown ashore by the wind, causing people to cough and wheeze. The red tide also kills manatees, sea turtles and fish.
On the Gulf coast of Florida, the state has been dealing with the worst outbreak of red tide in more than a decade. The algae outbreaks are common in the area, but scientists have also documented at least eight cases of red tide on the east coast since the 1950s.
COMMENTS