SeaWorld Rescue Team seeing spike in manatee rescues

[Stu]

The deadly bloom of red tide continues to invade the southwestern coast of Florida, putting many marine animals at risk, including manatees, which are particularly vulnerable as herbivores that eat algae.

The red tide is also known as a harmful algal bloom. This occurs when normal algae – plants that live in the sea and freshwater – grow out of control, producing toxins that can harm people, fish, marine mammals and birds.

In partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the SeaWorld Rescue team has taken in 10 manatees affected by red tide, treating them at SeaWorld’s critical care facilities, while readying supplies and equipment for red tide-related rescues and treatment in the coming months.

SeaWorld is treating the most critical cases, while manatees requiring continued care are relocated by the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) to other local facilities.

Jon Peterson, manager of rescue operations at SeaWorld Orlando, explained how manatees are treated when they arrive. “They lay in shallow water and we put foam under their heads to help them breathe fresh air, give them fluids and check their blood. It is labour intensive work, but animals usually start to recuperate within 24 to 48 hours, however, the longer they have been breathing red tide toxins, the harder it is for them to recover.”

The aim is to return manatees to the wild once the red tide subsides, but the FWC predicts the toxic algae will continue blooming into 2019.

The endangered Florida manatee is at risk from both natural and man-made causes of injury and mortality. Exposure to red tide, cold stress and disease are natural problems that can affect manatees.

Human-caused threats include boat strikes, crushing by flood gates or locks, and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear.

©SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

[Sandra & co]

Heartbreaking, I wonder what is going to be done to clear this up. We went all that way to Cape Coral and didnt have a clue about red tide or Algae, trying to find a clear beach was hard. Dead fish washed up on Bowmans, Naples full of red tide. We drove to Naples and all the way back again. My famiy still swum but coughed alot, hope they get it sorted soon!