Florida’s Red Tide: Is Seafood Safe To Eat

Author Shani Valencia

July 21st, 2021 11:06 AM

Part of the answer is pretty easy, and the other part is a little more difficult.

What is red tide?

First thing that we need to know is what red tide is. An algae known as Karenia brevis is found naturally in the Gulf of Mexico. At times, however, it’s found in such high concentrations that will discolor water and will kill off fish and other sea life with toxins. This isn’t rare, but this year’s red tide seems much more severe.

Is it safe to eat seafood?

For some seafood, including shrimp, snapper and grouper, the answer is yes, it’s safe to eat. Those fish and shellfish are found offshore. The algae bloom is found closer to the coast.

For other fish, it becomes a little more difficult to answer. For fish found closer to shore, such as mullet, trout, clams and oysters, it’s more about where they were caught. If they were brought in from areas unaffected by red tide, they should be safe to eat.

In most restaurants and stores, seafood should be safe because it is monitored for safety.
[Source: News Channel 8]

10 Things That Can Kill You In Florida

• Holiday Sunbathers Wary After Florida Panhandle Shark Attacks

  Share

  DESTIN, FL - JULY 2: People look at a dead bull shark on a dock July 2, 2005 in Destin, Florida. Florida has experienced a recent spate of shark attacks, with three in the last week alone. An Austrian tourist was bitten on the ankle July 1, on June 27 a 16-year-old boy lost his leg not far from the spot where a 14-year-old girl was killed on June 25, 2005. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

• Florida Wildfire Biologists Release Panther Into The Wild

  Share

  WEST PALM BEACH, FL - APRIL 03: A 2-year-old Florida panther is released into the wild by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on April 3, 2013 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The panther and its sister had been raised at the White Oak Conservation Center since they were 5 months old. The FWC rescued the two panthers as kittens in September 2011 in northern Collier County after their mother was found dead. The panther is healthy and has grown to a size that should prepare him for life in the wild. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Illegal Immigration Imperils Arizona Wilderness

  Share

  AJO, AZ - MARCH 27: A rattlesnake tastes the air on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Reserve on March 27, 2006 near Ajo, Arizona. Because of escalating environmental problems associated with the region?s massive illegal immigration and stepped up border enforcement efforts, the vast and desert wilderness in and around the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Reserve and Organ Pipe National Monument has been described as the nation?s most embattled wilderness by reserve officials. Immigrants crossing the desert are discarding tons of used water bottles, excess clothing and other trash as they elude the Border Patrol. Border agents trying to stop them, and vehicles that cross the border illegally, are accelerating widespread off-road vehicle damage on the fragile Sonoran Desert plain at an unprecedented rate. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
• NASA Reschedules Launch Of Space Shuttle

  Share

• Border Wall Funding Continues To Be Divisive Issue Prolonging Government Shutdown

  Share

  CANDELARIA, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: A boar is seen on running near the Rio Grande river which marks the border between Mexico and the United States on January 16, 2019 in Candelaria, Texas. The U.S. government is partially shut down as President Donald Trump is asking for $5.7 billion to build additional walls along the U.S.-Mexico border and the Democrats oppose the idea. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• PER: Effects Of The Inter-Oceanic Highway On The Eco-System

  Share

  IQUITOS, PERU - JUNE 08: Peru's most infamous snake, the Coral Snake, credited with more fatalities than any other in Peru, seen on the street on June 8, 2007 in Iquitos, Peru. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images)
• Moon Bear Rescue Centre In Chengdu

  Share

  CHENGDU, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 9: (CHINA OUT) A black bear drinks water at the Moon Bear Rescue Centre September 9, 2006 in Chengdu of Sichuan Province, China. Established in 2002, the center has saved about 185 bears from bear farms, where farmers milked their bile for profit and now it houses 168 bears. Financed by the AAF, Moon Bear Rescue Centre has cooperated with local governments to work towards the future of eliminating bear farming in China. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

• Visitors Enjoy The Wildlife At The Farne Islands

  Share

  SEAHOUSES, ENGLAND - JUNE 26: A Moon jellyfish swims beneath the waters of Inner Farne on June 26, 2011 at the Farne Islands, England. The Farne Islands, which are run by the National Trust, are situated two to three miles off the Northumberland coastline. The archipeligo of 16-28 separate islands (depending on the tide) make the summer home to approximately 100,000 pairs of breeding seabirds including around 36,000 Puffins, 32,000 Guillemots and 2,000 pairs of Arctic Terns. The species of birds which nest in internationally important numbers include Shag, Sandwich Tern and Arctic Tern. The coastline around The Farnes are also the breeding ground to one of Europe's largest Grey Seal colonies with around 4,000 adults giving birth to 1500 pups every year. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Hunting Excursions Latest In Effort To Curb Evasive Snake Population

  Share

  DAVIE, FL - JANUARY 12: A Burmese python is seen on display at the registration event and press conference for the start of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Davie, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Lightning

  Share

  View of intercloud lightning at night, late Twentieth Century. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

More recent WiLD stories…

https://wild941.com/author/svalencia/feed/

Get The WiLD Flex Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Stay connected with the hottest celebrity, music and Tampa/St. Pete stories, exclusive contests, games, and more.

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.

Author Shani Valencia

Category:

• WiLD Headlines