Red Tide is Gone from Anna Maria Island

Thousands of Florida vacationers have become privy to a new term in 2018, or have been reminded of something they hoped wouldn’t come back anytime soon- red tide.

Since August, red tide has caused major concerns for islanders. But it seems that reports from numerous sources have confirmed the one thing locals and vacationers alike have been hoping for. The red tide on Anna Maria Island has receded dramatically and, in almost all areas, is gone entirely.

Red tide is an algae bloom that has plagued the gulf coast of Florida for months. Known as Karenia brevis, it is a microalgae that emits a neurotoxin as it blooms. It kills local marine life, makes shellfish unsuitable to eat, and causes breathing irritation (1).

Swimming the Island

Nearly every Sunday since 2013, a group of locals get together and swim a mile-and-a-half north along the shores of Anna Maria Island. They conclude their mission with breakfast, and start the day and the week with a renewed purpose and strength.

After some setbacks throughout the fall, the group has seen a clear shift in the last week. The Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission has declared little to no presence of red tide in the Anna Maria Island waters. They declared less than 1,000 cells per liter or less, no anticipated effects, and even measured entirely non-present levels (2).

Now, the group is back on track, with many swim members tripling their efforts and swimming three times in the last week. The locals are relieved. The news made the last swim of 2018 an especially rewarding one.

The Island Life and Moving Forward

Overall, bookings are up dramatically. The holiday weekend saw huge crowds collecting along the coast of the island. Restaurants on the water boasted long waits, perhaps accounting for the months of slower business.

Now that red tide is gone, locals are eager to get back out and vacationers are excited to see what they have been missing.

The area is thriving. Interestingly, the red tide bloom has brought the community closer together. Locals donated their time to help keep the shores clean and welcoming while many locals helped support struggling local businesses with by returning time and time again.

Great Place to Vacation

The worst is behind, certainly, but many visitors and locals think that the best is still ahead. Bookings have skyrocketed with many major rental providers, while property managers are announcing full or near-full bookings into March. It seems many possible vacationers in the back half of 2018 have waited until 2019 to pull the trigger on their vacation aspirations. They always kept the island on their radar.

It’s hard to stay away from the Old Florida town known for local charm, slow island living, and gorgeous scenery. Anna Maria Island has all your favorite things to do and delicious seafood is still on the menu. If the negative media coverage made you second guess your vacation, you can rest easy.

Could all of this lead to a Florida eco-friendly, environmentally-conscious renaissance? The red tide is almost entirely gone and the enthusiasm is brimming. What a great time to see Anna Maria Island.

Other News Resources

1. https://www.amisun.com/2018/12/28/red-tide-gone-with-the-wind/

2. https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article223772275.html

3. https://www.islander.org/2019/01/red-tide-makes-an-exit-from-area-waters-for-2019/