Nowadays, RideTide is much better understood. The good news is that Treasure Island and Madeira Beach continue to thrive. Many of the frustrations around Red Tide can easily be resolved by employing different mechanisms such as conducting risk assessments and having a defined set of safety protocols. These strategies have equipped business owners with the ability to adeptly respond to various scenarios should they find themselves and their guests frustrated by Red Tide. Over the years, businesses have found ways to keep visitors and guests enjoying Treasure Island and Madeira Beach.

This leads us to the topic of today: For businesses and tourists frequenting Treasure Islands and Madeira Beach Florida, red tide has seemed to be an annual event in these areas.

And although red tides may seem to be debilitating for businesses and people, its effects have now become manageable and a little less serious as it is in the case of these 2 beautiful places. Various solutions have already been put in place to work around this natural phenomenon. One way to prove it is by looking at how businesses, restaurants, and tourist attractions manage to remain open and even prosper despite the occurrence of red tides in the area.

What is Red Tide And What Are Its Causes?

Before coming up with a solution, it is always necessary for us to know and fully assess the problem.

Red tide is generally defined as a natural phenomenon caused by harmful algal blooms in which algae exponentially become numerous which may sometimes cause discoloration of the coastal waters. Most of the time, red tide causes the depletion of oxygen in the waters and releases toxins that may be injurious to both humans and marine organisms.

Factors causing red tides may include low salinity levels, extreme nutrient content, warm temperatures, among others. The speed of its expansion, which could travel long distances, may be influenced by both natural and man-made factors such as the water current, strong winds, ocean storms, waves, and even ships.

Are Red Tides Harmful?

Just like any other hazardous phenomenon, red tides can of course be dangerous. However, its effects are not considered to be equally harmful to people as it is to marine organisms.

Red tide organisms, on the west coast of Florida, create natural toxins. While the reasons as to why and how these toxins are produced are still to be ascertained, the threat that these toxins pose to both human and marine organisms has always been present. These toxins peril marine animals by damaging their central nervous system eventually leading to their demise. Smaller marine organisms such as krill that feed on algae bearing these harmful toxins, can also pose a threat to other marine animals that prey on them.

For humans, while this may cause itching and burning eyes, swimming in the waters affected by the red tide is generally considered to be safe for most. Moreover, inhaling the toxins that are released into the air may cause mild to moderate symptoms such as coughing and sneezing that are only temporary. However, people with a history of respiratory illnesses such as asthma or emphysema are still advised to refrain from doing activities in the red tide to avoid having more serious complications.

Why You Should Not Worry: What Businesses And The Government Are Doing About It

If you heard or read about the red tide in Treasure Island and Madeira Beach Florida, you would probably think twice about going to the beaches and dining in restaurants situated in these areas. It would be completely understandable especially if you believe your health and safety are at risk.

However, as earlier said in this article, although we cannot wipe out the presence of the red tide phenomenon entirely, its impacts have already been alleviated with the employment of corrective measures. Both the business sector and the government are now on top of the situation. Health and safety protocols being employed by restaurants and various attractions located in Madeira Beaches would also be a great assurance.

Establishments in the area implement defined measures to ensure that shellfish among other scrumptious dishes that are being served in these restaurants is safe to eat by making sure that they are regularly monitored and have passed the necessary safety protocols implemented by the government. Furthermore, shellfish available in these restaurants were not sourced from local waters, and if in any case, they were, they will be tested first for red tide toxins before being sold in the market. The same process also goes for water activities as recreational beaches are being tested for bacterial indicators before being allowed to accommodate tourists.

Drawing lessons from the 2018 red tide crisis, the State of Florida has since then worked on beefing up its capacity in mitigating the effects of the red tide by improving communication among concerned agencies and educating the public. They also launched an interactive map that allows people to check the condition of the beaches providing them prior information before visiting the area.

Furthermore, the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative were recently established to supervise the development of technologies and the process of controlling and mitigating algal blooms. In the next few years, both departments will be allocated an $18 million-dollar funding which will be utilized in improving Florida’s capacity in detecting red tides.

Because of these efforts by both the public and private sectors, establishments, restaurants, and attractions in Treasure Islands and Madeira Beach Florida continue to thrive despite the presence of red tides. Customers continue to frequent the area as they are assured that stringent measures being imposed by the state of Florida on establishments in Madeira Beaches are regularly monitored and strictly followed by business owners in the area.

Why Understanding Red Tide is Important

Ignorance is bliss, but sometimes it can lead you to wrong places and dangerous situations. For businesses and tourists alike, a lot of problems would have been avoided had they been more aware of such risks. This only shows that having full knowledge and a total grasp of any circumstance has always been better. For all of us, understanding a phenomenon such as the red tide would be a major key to avoiding the perils revolving around it, and would lessen the stigma that surrounds this natural phenomenon.