Red Tide Tragedy

For months we'd been looking forward to manatees in the bay and, in fact, chose a higher floor in the condo complex to have better perspective for photos. I was shocked to learn that the manatee population has been declining dramatically because of Red Tide.


This toxic algae bloom has infected the manatee food supply and yesterday the Tampa Bay Times published a story with the startling statistic of 174 deaths this year, a sad record.

Even after the bloom fades, the toxin persists in the manatees' ecosystem for several months, do the death toll will continue to rise.

Manatee in Boca Ciega Bay - March 2012