• People in the coastal areas experiencing red tide blooms can experience varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms.
  • When a person leaves the red tide area, the symptoms usually go away.
• People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease are cautioned to avoid red tide areas.
• People that live on or near the water should keep windows closed, stay inside and use the air conditioning as much as possible.
• Report fish kills to local health authorities so frequent cleaning of effected areas is done on a regular and as needed basis.

Is it safe to eat?

• Shellfish like the bivalve mollusks; clams, oysters, and coquinas that are harvested from red tide areas should not be eaten.
  • These mollusk and shellfish are filter feeders that can filter large amounts of the red tide algae from the water and concentrate the toxin producing algae in their gut.
• Other seafood, commonly called shellfish, such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster can be eaten because they do not filter water and will not concentrate the toxin.
• Scallops can be eaten if only the scallop's muscle is eaten, as is normally the case.
  • Scallop stew, which would use the whole animal, should not be eaten

Red Tide Facts

• Red tides have been observed in Florida since the 1840s. Since then, there have been multiple documented episodes with fish kills in the Gulf of Mexico, the east coast of Florida and up to the North Carolina coast.
• Red tide can cause some people to suffer from skin irritation and burning eyes. 
• If you are particularly susceptible to irritation from plant products, avoid red tide water. 
• Do not swim among dead fish because they can be associated with harmful bacteria.
• People experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, and tearing) when the red tide organism (K. brevis) is present along a coast and winds blow its toxic aerosol onshore.
• CAUTION: People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions (such as emphysema or asthma) are advised to avoid red tide areas.