Issue:

Harmful Algal Blooms

microcystis aeruginosa

Blue-green Algae (Cyanobacteria)

Cyanobacteria is one of the oldest types of lifeforms on Earth and is found primarily in freshwater systems. There are thousands of species of cyanobacteria and many are known to produce a variety of toxins.

Cyanobacteria is a photosynthetic microorganism that processes sunlight, nitrogen and phosphorous to live. They can regualate their position in the water column for optimal light and thrive in warm, nutrient-rich fresh or brackish water with low turbulence.

Microcystis and Anabaena are two of the most common cyanobacteria found in estuarine systems today. These bacteria are known to produce cyanotoxins dangerous to humans and animals. Microcystin and Anatoxin are classes of hepatoxin and neurotoxin, affecting the liver and brain, respectively.

Human and animal exposure to Cyantoxins comes in three primary forms of contact:

Dermal contact
Inhalation or aspiration from aerosolized surface water
Ingestion

Harmful algal blooms have severe impacts on human health, aquatic ecosystems and our economy.

Red Tide (Karenia brevis)

Red tide is a marine dinoflagellate found in saltwater, and has been known to inhabit the Gulf of Mexico throughout recorded history. Red tide blooms have been increasing in scope and intensity within the last 30 years. Red tide has also occurred throughout the Gulf and Atlantic Coast, reaching as far as North Carolina.

Karenia brevis can utilize at least 12 different forms of nutrients and also consume other single cell organisms for food. They are capable of motion and directed swimming allowing them greater access to nutrients.

Red Tide produces brevatoxins which can be deadly to many sea animals and often causes acute respiratory symptoms in humans. Aerosolized health effects include irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and exacerbating occurrences of respiratory distress, bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia. Brevatoxin can also have a serious impact on the marine food-chain, contributing to shellfish poisoning and gastrointestinal disorders.

Take Action

Contact Your State Legislators

Calusa Waterkeeper calls on citizens and stakeholders to urge elected officials and responsible agencies to take the following ten actions:

The toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) often stretching from Lake Okeechobee to our west coast is the result of decades of failed water policy implementation. A perfect storm of lax enforcement and under-funding at the local, state and national levels has culminated in the historic harmful algae blooms (HABs) that plagued our region in 2018 (and so many other years).

If political leaders fail to take action, history is doomed to repeat itself year after year, causing catastrophic harm to our ecosystem and our economy.

The science is clear on what needs to be done.

What has been lacking is the political will to enact the regulation and legislation required to begin to reverse these problems. We look to you, as informed citizens, to proactively communicate your water quality concerns to newly elected officials. It will take a groundswell of voices if we are to affect change in Tallahassee during this coming legislative session.

Find Your Legislators

Calusa Waterkeeper joins the Center for Biological Diversity, Waterkeeper Alliance, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) and Conservancy of Southwest Florida in submitted comments to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the intent to develop a policy on the determination of a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and hypoxia as an Event of National Significance in freshwater systems. Read the comments now(PDF).

Troubled Waters

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Learn More

Harmful Algal Blooms

Innovative Air Monitoring Device to be Presented at the Waterkeeper Alliance Global Conference in Washington

Jun 9, 2022

After pioneering a new monitoring device and releasing initial results, Calusa Waterkeeper board member Manuel Aparicio IV, PhD, will be presenting a workshop, “Airborne HAB Monitoring” about this ground-breaking research at the Waterkeeper Alliance Global Conference in Washington D.C.

Research Finds Airborne Toxins in Southwest Florida

May 4, 2022

There’s new information about airborne toxins in Southwest Florida as research expands. Concerns are growing about the impact on the community and the air we breathe. The Calusa Waterkeeper set up air samplers in various locations around Lee County last year after the red tide and blue-green algae outbreak in 2018.

Initial SWFL Study Finds Water & Air Pollutants could cause grave Brain Disease

May 2, 2022

A first-of-its-kind field study of Southwest Florida air and water didn’t find widespread cyanobacteria toxins however, it did find several neurotoxins as well as three forms of BMAA, a neurotoxin linked to grave brain diseases.

Collaborative Research on Airborne Toxins from Harmful Algal Blooms in Southwest Florida

May 2, 2022

Calusa Waterkeeper and Wyoming-based Brain Chemistry Labs collaborate on a groundbreaking device to research airborne toxins from harmful algal blooms utilizing the most sensitive technology available for detecting harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins,

Study Shows Nitrogen Flows Systematically Intensify Red Tide Blooms

Apr 15, 2022

A new University of Florida study with two nonprofit research partners shows clear ties between nitrogen from human activities and the longevity and severity of the saltwater harmful algal blooms as published in the academic journal Science of the Total Environment.

Warm Temps Could Fuel Storms this Summer Resulting in Future Algae Blooms

Mar 27, 2022

Gulf of Mexico and Lake Okeechobee water temperatures are warm for this time of year, and those warm waters could lead to a myriad of problems, from blue-green algae blooms to feeding tropical storms and hurricanes that could lead to bloom conditions in the summer of 2023.