A seabird lies dead in the seaweed on the shoreline of Gasparilla Island in Boca Grande, Fla. Residents of Southwest Florida are reporting devastating toxic algae bloom stretching across several counties. Fish, sea turtles, pelicans, sharks, and even manatees are washing up dead, and many people are reporting respiratory problems. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a State of Emergency, but his climate denial and anti-environmental policies are part of the problem.
These reports indicate a level of economic cost, human health concern and environmental impact approaching what we'd expect in a large hurricane or wildfire.
Toxic algal blooms like this occur naturally, but they have grown in frequency and intensity in recent years. While the causes are subject to some debate, the likely culprits are a combination of factors: elevated water temperatures from climate change, increased nutrient load from Big Sugar, phosphate mines and other sources, and some bad decisions (new and old) by the Army Corps of Engineers.