Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is watchful for signs of Karenia brevis (red tide) and Sargassum.

During the Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force meeting on June 10, Katherine Hubbard said a red tide bloom started in 2024 and extended through February 2025.

The six-month bloom was restricted to south Florida, said Hubbard.

“Usually, blooms start in late summer to early fall,” she explained. It’s too early for forecast the next bloom.

“This is forecasted to be a bad Sargassum year,” Hubbard said. There have already been some landings on Florida coasts.

“The Sargassum can get pulled into the Gulf of Mexico,” she continued. It can land on the east coast, north Florida, Texas and parts of the Gulf.

The loop current can distribute it over a wide area, she explained.

Sargassum is a type of brown algae that plays an important role in the marine ecology, providing food, refuge and breeding grounds for turtles, crabs and fish. While Sargassum is beneficial in the ocean, excessive amounts washing ashore can impact beaches and tourism. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recent large invasions of Sargassum have been linked to fertilizer runoff and deforestation.

A task force member asked if booms could be used to keep the sargassum away from the shoreline in populated areas. Hubbard said federal protections for sea turtles prohibit this.

According to the National Ocean Service: “Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae—plant-like organisms that live in the sea and freshwater—grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal.

“HABs are caused by microscopic algae that produce toxins that kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat. The toxins may also make the surrounding air difficult to breathe. As the name suggests, the bloom of algae often turns the water red.

“HABs have been reported in every U.S. coastal state, and their occurrence may be on the rise. HABs are a national concern because they affect not only the health of people and marine ecosystems, but also the 'health' of local and regional economies,” the National Ocean Service website explains.

But not all algal blooms are harmful, the National Ocean Service advises: “Most blooms, in fact, are beneficial because the tiny plants are food for animals in the ocean. In fact, they are the major source of energy that fuels the ocean food web.”