Red Tide Chronology
Historic Conditions along the Southwest Florida Coast
photo: taken on September 12, 1995 at North Lido Beach by Robert
Myers
1844:
First fish kill in Florida suspected to have been caused by Red
Tide occurs. Other outbreaks follow in 1854, 1856, 1865, 1878, 1879,
1880,
1882, 1883, 1885, 1908, 1916, and 1935.
November 1946 - September 1947:
Resort beaches from Tarpon Springs to Marathon are covered with
dead fish, reportedly at a rate of up to 100 pounds per foot of
shoreline.
Shortly after local officials go to Washington to seek federal help,
the
outbreak is routed by a Gulf hurricane. University of Miami researchers
discover the micro-organism that is the cause of Red tide and name it Gymnodinium
breve. It is still considered to be the most severe Florida Red
Tide
on record.
June - December 1952:
Red Tide affects a 400 square mile area from Boca Grande to Sanibel
Island; Clearwater Mayor Herbert Brown suggests using Air Force planes
to fire-bomb a 150 mile area of dead fish with napalm to keep them from
coming ashore.
September 1953 - Summer 1954:
Small but persistent Red Tide blooms occur from Pinellas County
south to Sanibel Island, causing a $3.8 million loss to the tourist
industry
in Clearwater alone.
September - December 1957:
Red Tide outbreak results in what are called "catastrophic
mortalities" of marine animals along the coast from Anclote Keys to
Cape Sable. Officials try spraying copper sulfate from crop dusters
planes on gulf waters from Clearwater to Naples, but discontinue the
program because of the high cost and because the chemical damages other
sea life. State prisoners are used to clean up dead fish at Clearwater
Beach.
October 1959:
Red Tide kills fish along a 120 mile stretch of the gulf coast from
Clearwater to the Fort Myers area. At Sanibel Island, one of the
hardest hit areas, children are reported to be stacking dead fish like
"cordwood" on the beach.
April 1963:
Red Tide observed from Tampa Bay to Marco Island. Authorities
consider it the worst fish kill ever recorded in Tampa Bay. More than
150 tons
of fish are removed from the bay's shorelines, including a dead 700
pound
grouper that floats ashore at Coquina Key.
July 1964:
First documented Red Tide north of Tarpon Springs occurs. The 14,000
square mile bloom is centered in the Apalachee Bay area and as far
south as Piney Point.
August 1967 - January 1968:
Red Tide first reported 10 miles west of St. Pete Beach and develops
into a major bloom lasting until November. Fish kills off the Fort
Myers area are reported into January. Officials close Pinellas,
Hillsborough,
Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties to shell fishing.
May - September 1971:
Red Tide first reported in Fort Myers area and then moves north
to Tampa Bay. Lost tourist dollars and clean-up costs an estimated $20
million. Thousands of dead fish fill Tampa Bay and wash up into the
canals
and bayous in St. Petersburg, primarily in the Shore Acres and Snell
Isle
areas.
January - June 1974:
Red Tide first reported in Fort Myers area and then moves north
to Tampa Bay. Tourists resort to wearing gas masks on the beaches to
beat the stench; loss to the tourist industry is estimated at over $15
million. City workers stretch nets across small bayous in St.
Petersburg to keep out dead fish and ducks.
January - September 1982:
Red Tide ranges from Pasco County to Naples, killing 39 manatees in
the Caloosahatchee River area in February and March.
September 1986 - March 1987:
Red Tide blooms as far as 79 miles offshore. Shell fishing banned in
counties from Pinellas southward to Lee, including Hillsborough County.
March - May 1989:
Red Tide outbreak occurs on Pinellas and Manatee beaches, killing
thousands of fish and rendering shellfish poisonous in the two county
area.
July - August 1991:
Red Tide begins in Sarasota and Manatee counties and slowly moves
north to the Pinellas beaches. Harvesting shellfish, oysters and clams
anywhere along the West Florida shoreline is banned.
September 1992 - January 1993:
Shell fishing areas from Charlotte to Pinellas counties are closed
as a result of two Red Tide outbreaks, one in September and one in
November.
September 1994 - April 1996
Longest Red Tide Bloom recorded. Present in varying concentrations
from Tarpon Springs to the Keys throughout an 18 month period.
October 1997 - March 1998
Moderate bloom with shell fishing bed closures and dead fish from
Charlotte Harbor to Venice.
December 1999 - May 2000
Moderate bloom with shell fishing bed closures from Charlotte Harbor
to Key West. Some patches of dead fish reported.
August 2001 - September 2002
Moderate to high bloom with massive fish kills and respiratory
irritition from St. Pete to Charlotte Harbor.
November 2002 - December 2002
Moderate to high bloom with fish kills and severe irritation along
the East Coast of Florida from Vero Beach to Cape Canaveral.
February 2003 - October 2003
Moderate to high bloom with fish kills
and severe irritation along the West Coast of Florida from Tarpon
Springs to Marco Island.
January 2004 - February 2004
Moderate to high bloom with some fish
kills and irritation along the West Coast of Florida from Indian Rocks
Beach to Englewood.
January 2005 - ???
Moderate to high bloom with fish kills and irritation
from Tampa Bay to Ft. Myers Beach.