Red tide declines off Broward

Red tide levels declined this week off Broward County, an encouraging sign for a region that had been concerned about the effects of an oceanic hazard normally confined to the Gulf coast.

Water samples taken Monday showed the toxic algae either absent or present at low concentrations along the Broward coast, according to information released late Tuesday afternoon by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

No results were released for Palm Beach or Miami-Dade counties. But beaches remained open across South Florida, after a flurry of closings last week amid speculation the nationally publicized outbreak could drive off tourists.

The highest level in Broward — a level still classified as low — was detected off Hallandale Beach.

About 100 dead fish washed up Monday in Hallandale Beach, and another 131 washed up Tuesday, said Jennifer Jurado, Broward County’s director of environmental planning and community resilience. In addition, she said about 50 beachgoers there complained of symptoms, which include coughing, sneezing and an itchy throat.

But she said the decline in red tide across the area was an hopeful sign that the problem may be fading.

“The results are positive,” she said. “We’re just optimistic that strong winds will help purge what we have left.”

The favorable results for Broward had not been unexpected. Only a few dead fish washed up in Broward County over the weekend, after a deluge of nearly 1,300 in previous days, leading officials to be cautiously hopefully that red tide levels were declining.

But the region may not be done with the toxic algae. A “moderate” level of red tide will persist off Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties through at least Friday, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Very low levels are predicted off Martin and St. Lucie counties.

Beaches remain open throughout South Florida, although authorities are conducting daily tests for red tide.

A moderate concentration of red tide means that airborne chemicals released by the algae could be harmful to those with chronic respiratory conditions but would provoke mild symptoms at most in the rest of the population.

Normally found only on the Gulf coast, red tide occasionally catches a ride on the Florida current from the Gulf and makes it to the state’s Atlantic coast.

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