Algae to blame in recent fish kill
Although the organism had been previously reported, scientists still don't understand how it affects marine life or how it got into the lagoon.
By Suzanne Wentley staff writer
A micro-algae similar to red tide has been identified as the cause of an increasingly deadly fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon from the Jensen Beach Causeway to the Fort Pierce Inlet, state scientists said Wednesday.
With more snook, mullet, black drum and croakers dying in the brown, cloudy water since the fish kill was reported last week, health and agricultural officials are suggesting residents avoid swimming in or eating fish from the affected area of the lagoon.
Although the organism, called Takamaya pulchella, had been reported in the same area in 1996 and 1990, scientists still don't understand how it affects marine life, how it got to the lagoon or why it was dormant for so long.
"The third time around, this is a
hot spot area for this algae," said Jan Landsberg,
a research scientists with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in
More laboratory tests are planned.
Landsberg said the scientists are also interested in learning if the algae emits brevatoxin, which causes respiratory irritation in humans during red tide events. If not, it's possible it kills fish by depleting the oxygen in the water, she said.
Another fish kill was reported at the Beach Club Colony marina, said Jim David, director of St. Lucie County's mosquito control division, who first reported the fish kill.
David said the 1996 bloom lasted for a month, until the lagoon water cooled.
"It's possible that it will intensify and it will be occurring in the ocean," he said.
Scientists are also analyzing water and
fish samples to determine if the algae bloom in the lagoon could be connected
to another report of 10,000 croakers dead along beaches
from
Jim Moses, St. Lucie County's environmental health director, said residents and visitors should avoid swimming in or ingesting water from the affected area — at least until scientists are able to determine its effect on humans.
An unpleasant odor and a sensation of tingling skin have been associated with exposure to the bloom area.
David Heil, chief of the bureau of aquaculture and environmental services at the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said workers will gather samples of the water and clams today from the lagoon both north and south of the Fort Pierce Inlet.
If the algae bloom is detected north of the Fort Pierce Inlet to the county line, recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting will be temporarily banned, he said.
But Mike Cosgrove, who lives on
He said live bait survived only a few seconds in a bucket of water from the lagoon in front of his house. Like in 1996, the lagoon smells "putrid" and the water is a green or red cloudy mess, he said.
"Last time, it was just totally devoid of any fish out there for probably a month," he said. "At least it's been eight years. You don't want these things coming one on top of each other."
Algae bloom
•Identified as: Takamaya pulchella
•Location:
•Previous occurrences: 1996 and 1990, in the same area
•Characteristics: Little is known, but causes cloudy water and may emit a toxin similar to red tide.
•Precautions: Officials suggest not eating fish or shellfish, or swimming in or ingesting water from the affected area of the lagoon.