Red Tide

Gulf Beach News

Red Tide Sea Oats Linked

T I Beach Bums has learned that one of the world’s largest Oceanographic research institutes has claimed they have found the cause for the red tide outbreak that has been plaguing Florida’s Gulf Coast for the past several months.

According to an article in this month’s Oceanographic Illustrated, the leading industry publication, the prestigious Caribbean Ocean and Nautical Society has completed a 6 year study of red tide. According to the article’s author, the study discovered that the primary cause for red tide was the seed from Uniola panculate, or more commonly known as sea oats.

According to the published article, seeds from the sea oat plant are spread by the wind. When those seeds are carried over open water they eventually fall into the Gulf of Mexico. Under normal conditions the seed will quickly be consumed by micro bodies living within sea water and have no short or long term effect on sea life.

However, the study discovered that the combination of two factors not previously seen occurring at the same time are causing at least a short term reaction which will affect sea life in a negative way.

Unusually high sea water temperatures caused a chemical reaction never before observed. According to the article’s authors, when a sea oat seed falls into sea water heated above 88 degrees Fahrenheit, the seed begins to decompose at an accelerated rate causing the seed to produce an enzyme that evolves into a red tide bloom.

Traditionally this has not caused a problem. However, according to the article, the massive planting program championed by Treasure Island Commissioner Alan Bildz, has raised the number of sea oats along Treasure Island’s coast which in turn has drastically raised the number of sea oat seeds being introduced into the warm Gulf Coast waters. This combination appears to be the cause for Treasure Island’s unusually long term and intense red tide problem.

The study recommends that Treasure Island stop planting sea oats or prepare residents for intense and long term outbreaks of red tide.

For further information in reference to this study, you can contact the Caribbean Oceanographic and Nautical Society at 555-555-5555. Before you make the call stand on one foot, and begin chanting "I've just been conned by T I Beach Bums"