Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel continue to monitor red algae
Communities along the Gulf continue to monitor the increased amount of red algae washing up on the beaches, particularly on Fort Myers Beach and Bunche Beach.
In Sanibel, it has been reported by police that red algae strands are washing up on the shores, though not as much as has been seen elsewhere.
While red algae not a “bad” algae, nor is it toxic, it can smell bad when it washes ashore in bulk and lies in the sun.
Red algae is a naturally occurring event that washes up on our shores in small quantities, not enough to be noticed by the nose and is usually swept away with the tides, to reappear elsewhere, officials said, adding red algae is beneficial, providing transit for smaller creatures and food for animals like manatees.
“When it washed ashore in small amounts, it dries up and doesn’t cause any problems. In fact, it transports small crustaceans, and small animals onto the beach,” said Eric Milbrandt, director of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Laboratory. “Shore birds and crabs will fish around and try to find the living things in there.”
When red algae comes in increased amounts, it decays and produces a strong odor that keeps people off the beaches.
“Like a compost pile, it produces areas with low oxygen and creates a sulfuric smell. While it’s not toxic, it creates a nuisance,” Milbrandt said. “In the past we’ve had years where these standing events have caused some major aesthetic concerns for those who like to walk the beach.”
Milbrandt said there was a “king tide” last week where there was an usually high tide that actually went over his seawall. It happened about the time of a full moon.
The main culprit is nitrogen runoff from the use of fertilizer into a system that already has plenty of nitrogen, he said.
“We have two or three times more nitrogen than there was before people were here,” Milbrandt said. “To predict an algae event on a certain beach is a little difficult because the algae drifts with the tidal currents.”
The algae has washed up on the Fort Myers Beach shores over the years, most recently two years ago. The town has a beach raking policy that allows the algae to be raked away. They can also pick up by hand dead fish that wash up during red tide.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com