Congress takes aim at harmful algal blooms

Abstract

Florida is facing one of the worst red tide outbreaks in more than a decade. The toxic algae have been plaguing both coasts in the state for the past 10 months, and they show no sign of going away. Reports of dead fish and mammals washing ashore and horrible stenches of rotting sea life are driving many visitors away from Florida, hurting the state’s economy. Neurotoxins produced by algae have also contaminated Dungeness crabs and other shellfish in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries & Coast Guard, said at an Aug. 28 hearing. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) noted that “algae blooms are turning hundreds of Wisconsin’s sparkling blue lakes and rivers into green pea soup” and that fish kills are getting worse in Green Bay. Climate change is contributing to the algal blooms as waters warm and