What is this (RED TIDE)?

 

 My fear in answering this is 

the knowledge that most human cures 

are ten time worse 

then anything we are trying to cure!

Before we get into the “Political Science” of this, 

how about a little simple answer from a simple minded person

(ME).

Yes, Red Tide is a part of ‘Mother Nature.’

However;

That is only half of this posting!

You see, 

as usual 

humans are the other half 

of the occurrence 

of 

Red Tide!

There are thousands of single-celled, microscopic, plant-like organisms 

alive and living in our waters, 

fortunately only about 2 or 3% are harmful predators!

In-fact, 

most help our coral reef grow and stay healthy 

and 

help fight pollution.

Humans have been feeding these 2 or 3% for years!

Remember

Everything grows better, faster and bigger

 in warm 

to 

hot weather 

and 

water, 

hint - hint!

We need to find a way to dispose of those microscopic organisms 

so close to our shore 

without destroying everything else around them! 

Boats and ships 

have been dumping everything not wanted 

while in the water 

and 

I mean everything.

Think about all of those past wars 

and 

the pollution from them?

What about the millions of 

'Sports fishers', catching fish and 'throwing it back'!

How well do you eat with your mouth ripped open, 

the fish dies!

How about the millions of commercial fishers, 

ever watch their throw-backs?

Septic systems and fertilizer run-off

 into rivers and into our oceans.

Storms shake up the bottom of our waters

 and 

restarts 

the pollution once again! 

Red tide

Is a common name for 

a worldwide phenomenon

known as an

algae bloom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algal_bloom

(Large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms—protozoans or unicellular algae)

When it is caused by species of

dinoflagellates and other algae.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinoflagellate

The upwelling of nutrients from the sea floor from massive storms is most likely the cause of these events.

Red tides are events in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column.

In the marine environment, single-celled, microscopic, plant-like organisms naturally occur in the well-lit surface layer of any body of water. 

These organisms, referred to as phytoplankton or microalgae, form the base of the food web upon which nearly all other marine organisms depend. 

Of the 5000+ species of marine phytoplankton that exist worldwide, 

about 2% are known to be harmful or toxic.

[10] 

Blooms of harmful algae can have large and varied impacts on marine ecosystems, depending on the species involved, the environment where they are found, and the mechanism by which they exert negative effects.