Dolphins have continued to wash up dead on beaches in parts of Florida, researchers said.
About 15 dolphins washed up dead in Collier and Lee counties in Florida on Tuesday said Blair Mase, a marine mammal stranding coordinator from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, according to the Naples Daily News. This now brings the total to 37 dead dolphins found on Florida beaches since November 21, according to the publication.
Biologists from NOAA told the publication it is still receiving reports of additional dead dolphins washing up across some counties in Florida. Officials are currently waiting for the results of the water supply to help figure out what is killing the dolphins, according to the Naples Daily News.
Although the water test samples have yet to come back, Mase told the publication that she believes it could be due to an increase of red tide counts.
"We do suspect red tide at this point, just because it's been so prevalent in the area," Mase told the Naples Daily News. "We've seen dolphins impacted by it for months."
Red tide, also known as K.brevis, is harmful algal blooms that happen when plants that live in fresh and seawater grow higher than average, according to the NOAA. The algae can produce harmful toxins that hurt oceanic wildlife and humans.
As of Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found that there were medium red tide concentrations detected on or offshore in Pinellas, Lee and Collier counties. Gulf coast beaches are also experiencing medium to high concentrations of red tide algae, according to the report.
There have also been reports of red tide in Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state's health department said that on November 21 water samples collected found low to medium range red tide cells from Alabama Point to Little Lagoon Pass in Baldwin County. The department advised people with respiratory problems to stay away from the water and to not eat fish from the red tide-affected areas.
"Persons with respiratory problems or those experiencing symptoms of nose, throat or eye irritation should avoid any mist generated by these waters. In addition, fish kills are possible in this area because of red tide," the health department wrote.
There have also been five bottle-nosed dolphins that have been found dead washed up on Naples beaches as of Sunday, Naples Harbormaster Roger Jacobsen told WFTX-TV.
There have been 109 dolphins that have died since July, according to NOAA. The administration has called the death rates of bottle-nosed dolphins in 2018 an "unusual mortality event" in South Florida. Since July, there have been higher rates of bottlenose dolphins washing up on shore in Florida counties such as Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties, according to NOAA.
The NOAA has provided tips on where to call and how to help stranded dolphins and animals. Click here for more information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Maria Perez is a breaking news reporter for Newsweek. She has an M.A in Urban Reporting from the CUNY Graduate School ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
