NPR

What to know about the 'red tide' hitting Florida beaches

The toxic Karenia brevis algae has returned to the Gulf Coast for another year, killing fish and causing health problems in people.
A sign is posted for depositing dead marine life from the "red tide" bacteria into dumpsters is seen at Bay Vista Park on July 21, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida.

The harmful "red tide," which has been known to discolor coastal waters and kill marine life off the coast of Florida, has returned for another year.

The toxic organism that paints the waters red was in February and was found at higher-than-normal levels in several Southwest Florida counties in recent days, state officials .

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Like To Bike? Your Knees Will Thank You And You May Live Longer, Too
New research shows lifelong bikers have healthier knees, less pain and a longer lifespan, compared to people who've never biked. This adds to the evidence that cycling promotes healthy aging.
NPR2 min read
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, A Hard-liner Who Crushed Dissent, Dies At 63
Iran's ultraconservative president, killed in a helicopter crash, oversaw a crackdown on women's protests and was linked to extrajudicial killings in the 1980s.
NPR3 min read
Taiwan's New President Urges China To Stop Its Military Intimidation
Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te in his inauguration speech has urged China to stop its military intimidation against the self-governed island Beijing claims as its own territory.

Related Books & Audiobooks