Do red tides occur anywhere else?
Yes. Although he organism that causes Florida’s red tide is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico, blooms have been found off the east coast of Florida and a bloom was detected off the coast of North Carolina in 1987. Scientists believe the Florida Current and Gulf Stream Current carried Karenia brevis out of the Gulf of Mexico, around South Florida and up to the Carolina coast. Other types of microorganisms cause different kinds of red tides (now called harmful algal blooms or HABs) in other parts of the world as well. HABs occur in both saltwater and freshwater. HOW LONG DOES RED TIDE TYPICALLY LAST? It can last days, weeks, months and it can change daily due to wind conditions. Thus, contact you local area for accurate and current conditions. IS RED TIDE A NEW PHENOMENON? No. The first official reporting of red tide in Florida was in 1844. Government officials documented discolored water and massive fish kills. WHAT CONDITIONS CAUSE RED TIDE? The red tide organism, Karenia
Yes, red tide organisms occur elsewhere. Although the organism that causes Florida’s red tide is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico, blooms have been found off the east coast of Florida, and a bloom was detected off the coast of North Carolina in 1987. Scientists believe the Florida Current and Gulf Stream Current carried K. brevis out of the Gulf of Mexico, around South Florida, and up to the Carolina coast. Other types of microorganisms cause different kinds of red tides (now called harmful algal blooms) in other parts of the world as well.
