Florida’s beaches attract tourists from all over the world.
But they could find themselves dealing with a nasty surprise.
And scientists found the answer to one scary problem threatening Florida’s beaches.
Scientists have made a major discovery about red tides
The beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast draw millions of tourists every year.
A trip to the beach can be threatened by red tides that cause officials to shut them down.
Red tides are harmful algae blooms that produce toxins that can kill birds and marine life and even cause sickness in humans.
These harmful algae blooms cause the water to turn red or brown.
Finally, Karenia brevis has been identified as the cause of ‘red tide’ as researchers identified nearly a dozen viruses associated with red tides that are harmful and costly https://t.co/DTZoaASsS7 pic.twitter.com/TujfH9dW5R
— Samer ✒ سامر (@sam6) March 23, 2025
Red tide is a problem every summer and fall in Florida that can ruin a trip to the beach.
Scientists at the University of South Florida conducted a study that discovered viruses connected to the organism, Karenia Brevis, that creates red tides.
The findings can help researchers predict when red tides occur and how they stop.
South Florida College of Marine Science postdoctoral researcher Jean Lim said that scientists can now study how these viruses affect red tides.
“We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, but we haven’t known what viruses might be associated with Karenia brevis blooms,” Lim said.
“Now that we’ve identified several viruses in red tide blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might have an influence on these events,” Lim added.
Scientists will study to see how these viruses affect red tides in nature.
“For example, an increase in the number of viruses found in a sample might suggest that a red tide bloom is about to begin, or that it is going to end,” Lim explained.
More than 200 miles of water between Tampa and Key West is affected in Florida every year from red tides.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) helped the South Florida team collect ocean water with red tide for their study.
A Florida beach is filled with dead fish after a red tide
Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida, left dead fish scattered all over the shore after an outbreak of red tide in February.
Tourists were stunned by what they saw at the popular beach.
New York resident Jeremy Barberine and his family were visiting Sarasota when their beach trip was turned upside down.
“When we first walked in from the back of the beach, right when we got to the shore, you can see there’s a line of it,” Barberine said about the dead fish.
Leslie Pliss said she tried not to let it bother her.
“I’m glad we are here. It’s still beautiful,” Pliss said. “There is a bit of a smell, but it’s not that bad. I’m not coughing or sneezing or anything.”
Katie Miranda did not go in the ocean during her day at the beach.
“I knew there was some red tide previously, but I didn’t know there was any going on right now. So when I walked out there and saw all the dead fish, I was not going to go in the water,” Miranda said.
Red tides are a wildcard that can throw a monkey wrench in a trip to the beach.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
