Status: 07/29/2021 12:48 a.m.
–
–
–
Florida is experiencing a natural disaster on a stretch of coast around 250 kilometers in length. Hundreds of tons of dead fish, crabs and sea turtles were washed ashore. The reason for the mass extinction is a poisonous alga that has gotten out of control.
By Stefanie Germann, ARD Washington
–
–
–
–
Day after day, a reporter from the local television station flies over the Florida coast in a helicopter. Below: the sea, reddish in places, and dead fish. Hundreds of tons of dead fish washed up on the beach.
“What we see here,” he says, “are excavators and clearing vehicles that dump the carcass masses into large containers.” In addition, the helicopter camera shows little people trying to use rakes to make the snow-white sand presentable for visitors.
Natural disaster over a length of around 250 kilometers
Florida is experiencing a natural disaster on a stretch of coast around 250 kilometers in length. Boats plow through a thick carpet of dead fish, crabs and sea turtles. Here and there a meter-sized bloated manatee drifts.
“It breaks my heart as a sailor and as a person,” says this fisherman as he pulls a dead dolphin out of the water. Another is clearly having trouble holding back his tears. “Instead of the beauty of nature, I see only death everywhere. Only death everywhere!”
Containers for dead fish in Bay Vista Park in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Image: AFP
–
–
Red alga out of control
The reason for the mass extinction is a poisonous alga. In Florida the “Red Tide”, the red algal bloom, is an annual phenomenon and – actually – not unusual. Records of this go back to 1840. But this year the alga is out of control. Especially in the Tampa area. Fischer speak of a “disaster” and a horror scenario.
According to the state animal welfare agency, the algae are up to 17 times more concentrated than the maximum value ever measured. These algae are microscopic – tiny cells that produce poison. If a wave hits the algae cell, it disintegrates and releases its deadly poison. If it gets into the air, it attacks the airways. Please keep windows and doors closed, warn the coastal towns, and please do not walk the dog on the beach.
More and more people are protesting on the street because “their homeland is dying,” as they say. They say that they have to cough, the stench is pungent, it smells of fermented fish and chemicals. The fact that the Republican Governor Ron de Santis has still not declared a state of emergency stunned many
.
Reason for the mass extinction of fish, crabs and sea turtles is a poisonous alga.
Build: AP
–
–
“Please help!” Appeals the mayor of a coastal town. But de Santis refuses. There is enough money for this season of algae bloom, that has already been priced in. All other discussions about it are political.
An emergency would put off tourists
On the one hand, an emergency would mean that Florida could take advantage of state aid. On the other hand, also that tourists would stay away. Thus, one of the most important sources of income is threatening to dry up. Economy beats environment – that’s Florida.
Critics accuse de Santis of playing down the “Red Tide” because he wants to be re-elected next year. And who wants to sacrifice a few dead fish to the financially powerful voters in conservative Florida?
Leak in the chemical pool of a fertilizer factory
The main culprit for this algae nightmare, say environmentalists and fishermen, is an environmental mess that de Santis tolerated. In March, a chemical pool leaked at the Piney Point fertilizer plant. The basin was drained – and up to 1,500 million liters of phosphate broth, ammonia and nitrate flowed directly into Tampa Bay.
“We finally need laws that forbid that the poisoned water is dumped into the sea,” says a fisherman angrily, “until then it is we who have to deal with the dead fish.”
Will such environmental laws ever come in Florida? Local media are already reporting again of residents splashing around in the sea – with nose clips against the pungent carcass smell. Before that, the clearing vehicles had carted away the dead animals in the early hours of the morning, people fairing the sand – everything is financially covered by Governor de Santis, who among other things has provided 25 million dollars for it.
Hundreds of tons of dead fish – Florida is experiencing a natural disaster
Stefanie Germann, ARD Washington, July 28, 2021 11:56 p.m.
–
–
–
