Red tide detected by FAU researchers at Bathtub Beach

STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — At Bathtub Reef Beach, double flags wave to warn beachgoers of possible red tide dangers.

Early on Monday, researchers with FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute collected samples to test for the harmful algae bloom.

“This is our water sample we will be looking at it under microscope for Karenia Brevis algae, which is the organism that causes red tide on west coast,” explained Dr. Malcolm McFarland, a Research Associate.

Monday afternoon, Dr. McFarland confirmed the presence of red tide in the water samples taken at both Bathtub Reef Beach and the Jupiter Inlet.

Dr. McFarland typically studies the possible impacts of toxic green algae, but now he and his team will be studying how the red tide rolled in.

“This is a completely different phenomenon from what we’ve been looking at,” said Dr. McFarland.

“We are really interested in seeing what it is. Tracking and trying to figure out how it got to the east coast.”

Red Tides on the east coast of Florida are extremely rare, but not unheard of.

In fact, there have been 57 reports of red tide in the Gulf of Mexico Since 1953.

Eight of those blooms originated in the Gulf and were carried by currents to the east coast.

“From a biological, ecological perspective, it is a fascinating phenomenon of how these organisms get transported around the ocean and around the world,” added Dr. McFarland. “It is really interesting ecologically, but of course from our perspective it can be a big problem”

Now Dr. McFarland and his team at Harbor Branch are working to figure out where this bloom developed and how exactly it got here.

“While it may be possible that things we are doing are causing overgrowth of the algae. It is also equally likely that it is a completely natural phenomenon that it is upwelling from deep ocean water that is fueling the blooms,” McFarland explained.

For now, Martin County guarded beaches will remain closed for swimming, which includes Jensen Beach, Bathtub Beach, Stuart Beach and Hobe Sound.

You can call 772-320-3112 for updated Martin County Beach information.