The dead fish, dolphins and the nasty smell of murky water all came with the red tide that plagued Florida’s Gulf coast last summer.
Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota is working to make a spray they believe could reduce the toxins red tide releases.
While researchers are still working on a finding a compound that works, when they do, they say the results could be a game changer.
So far in 2019, there hasn’t been too much to worry about, but scientists said there’s always a chance red tide will make a comeback.
Previous: What is red tide?
Red tide is a “harmful algal bloom,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The blooms happen when the colonies of algae start to grow out of control and produce powerful toxins that harm and even kill marine life, NOAA reports. People also can be affected by red tides. They can experience eye irritation, respiratory issues, asthma and in rare occurrences, death.
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