BLOOD IN THE WATER

Why did this beach turn red?

From late 2017 to early 2019, the west coast of Florida experienced a strange event that looked almost like makkas dam. The water on the beach turned red, and dead fish and other wildlife began to wash up on the shore.

The cause? A harmful type of red algae, Karenia brevis, that was poisonous to fish. Warm, calm water with a lot of nutrients had caused the algae to flourish and grow out of control. When this happens, it is known as a red tide. This algae appears near Florida from time to time, but this was one of the most intense such episodes.