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Group Wants More Red Tide Research

Posted on: Monday, 15 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

Aug. 14--MANATEE -- A local citizen-action group concerned about red tide is pushing efforts to keep research of the harmful algae going forward.

Solutions To Avoid Red Tide Inc. - members call themselves START - currently supports studies being conducted locally and around the state, hoping the technology will help stricken communities moderate red tide's negative effects on health and commerce.

"START really gets the credit for helping us scientists focus on the mitigation of red tide, where before we were looking at effects," said Rich Pierce, director of ecotoxicology at Mote Marine Laboratory. "They have been very helpful in generating funding and getting us focused on that avenue."

START, Mote Marine and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission have formed the Red Tide Alliance, a partnership that works together to focus on critical red tide problems in the state.

Founded in 1996, START has grown to about 400 members.

In addition to Manatee-Sarasota, START has chapters in Bonita Springs, Boca Grande, Naples and its most recent in Sanibel. Chapters in Siesta Key and Pinellas County are currently in the works.

John Connor, START's chief executive officer, said the organization awaits the results of two studies that could provide insight into fighting red tide.

One small pilot study conducted in February in Sarasota Bay involves the use of clay. When sprayed onto the the water's surface, the clay forms into larger particles that aggregate with red tide cells, weighing down the mass to sink to the sea floor. The clay can also kill the cells and tear apart the membranes of the algae but some scientists have expressed concern and caution because it accumulates on the sea floor.

The scientists, who include those from Mote Marine and co-partner Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, will meet in October to evaluate and interpret the results before deciding whether to conduct further research or make recommendations to state and federal agencies.

Like clay, Pierce said, ozone, another material being studied, is used for water purification. Unlike clay, which removes the red tide toxin to the bottom of the sea floor, ozone destroys the cell and, in high enough concentrations, kills the toxin causing the problems.

Ozone, however, is very reactive and toxic to other marine life, Pierce said.

"There are things that will kill red tide but we have to be careful we're not using something worse than red tide," Pierce said.

Ozone dissipates quickly, within hours, Pierce said. Early indications signal ozone may be effective if applied carefully.

"With a new type of nozzle for applying the ozone under water, we can have a very efficient destruction of the cell and toxin without releasing the ozone into the atmosphere. So it looks very promising," Pierce said. "It is going to affect any marine organism in the area, but with red tide there won't be much alive there."

Mote Marine has completed ozone lab studies and another using a 50,000-gallon tank. The data has been turned over to scientists for review, and will be assessed to determine if the current studies need to go further or if there is enough data to propose a field study.

"Mote's function is doing the research, not advocating which (method) can or cannot be used but which is most effective, and which has adverse effects on the environment," Pierce said.

He added, "That's where the decisions have to be made on where and when ozone can be applied. There will be strict requirements, regulation and monitoring."

By the end of the year, Mote plans to have a control room set up to oversee a continuous monitoring system where several underwater sensors along the gulf will measure algae levels in real time. The project will include two remote control underwater vehicles with built-in sensors.

A five-year grant Mote used to study the effects of airborne toxins on human respiration ended this year. The not-for-profit lab in Sarasota is working on a proposal to continue the research for another five years, Pierce said, and would focus on how the red tide toxins cause these effects and its long-term health impact.

Another study START is supporting revolves around red tide's impact on commerce.

Dr. Chuck Adams, a researcher with the University of Florida, said it is hard to determine red tide's financial impact on businesses in the Sarasota-Manatee areas because of a lack of sufficient data and the area's diverse economy.

Researchers in the past were able to show a negative effect on beach attendance using lifeguard head counts, which would suggest that businesses that support beach activity would also suffer.

Adams said a new study will be conducted on communities in the Charlotte County area that will be similar to one focusing on a Panhandle community.

"Up there, we were able to show a very significant impact because the economies are more compressed around the beach," Adams said. "The local (Manatee-Sarasota) economy is not as diverse."

The study showed the monthly losses from red tide for hotels was about $4 million, and $3 million for restaurants, Adams said.

"The same thing is happening on the barrier islands, like Longboat Key and Anna Maria, when you have a red tide in the area," Adams said. "But the data is not at a fine enough resolution to tease out the economic impact."

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Source: The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Fla.)

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