Red tides actually have nothing to due with tides. The red tide is a naturally occurring concentration of a rapidly producing “bloom” of microscopic algae known as Gymnodinium breve, a type of dinoflagellate (5). When this reproduction happens they are visible and become discolored patches of ocean water, usually red, but can also be orange, brown, or bright green. Gymnodinium breve is a type of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that is a single-celled organism, which photosynthesizes using chlorophyll and has two flagella that propels it through a water column (5). Given the right condition when temperature, salinity and nutrients reach a certain level, the increase of G. breve will occur (3). Some also think that high temperature with a lack of wind and rainfall might be the case of red tide blooms.

Dinoflagellates are the microscopic organism that is the cause of a red tide and belong to the division Pyrrhophyta. The

Some of the more serious illness associated with HAB’s is shellfish poisoning. The most serious poisons is Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). These are both life-threatening syndromes. ASP can have both mental and physical disorders, whereas PSP is neurological and even respiratory. PSP has no cure and therapy is needed for those who are infected to recover (10).

Dead fish surfacing is another health hazard. HAB organisms might be found in these fish and other aquatic animals. This mystery single celled organism is called “Phisteria” sometimes called the “phantom dinoflagellate” because it spends most of its life in a harmless resting period in rivers and coastal water (1b). It produces compounds that have an adverse effect on humans and could be even the newest species to join the toxic and harmful algae associated with the red tide. It is the only creature on Earth that is capable of morphing into 24 different forms (2). It is caused from coastal pollution, which trigger the blooms. Fish aren’t the only ones that are affected; humans can also have side effects from this “cell from hell.” Memory loss, skin sores, and Multiple Sclerosis like coordination problems is what humans can face when dealing with this cell associated with the red tide (6). If humans touch or eat marine animals that have been infected with Phisteria they can also have these side effects. With marine life, this bad dino lets go of powerful poisons that can stun fish. The fish then develop open sores and will soon kill them.

There is many ways to gain more knowledge about the causes and problems of the red tides. START.com is a citizen-based, non-profit organization to increase the public’s awareness of the harms of the red tide (7). Their website is dedicated to research for the red tide and their goal is to find some way to prevent/control the red tide without harming the environment. General Jim Patterson founded it in 1995 because he was harmed by the red tide and realized there was no efforts in controlling it, so he and other concerned citizens joined to raised money. They raised $1 million dollars for Florida’s research for scientific programs, human health risks and also ways to deal with dead fish that were washed up onshore. Due to START there is also a Red Tide Alliance, which joined with 3 organizations: The State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Flor

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