A belt of toxic, blooming red algae off Florida has killed tons of fish and caused tourists to flee the beaches along more than 200 kilometers of coastline in the southwestern part of the American state.

The algal bloom has also poisoned dolphins, manatees, turtles and even contributed to the death of a whale shark, writes The Washington Post.

Red algae accumulate off the coast for most of the year, but the massive bloom in the past two months has scientists baffled. Turtle mortality has been three times higher than normal this year, with up to 300 dead from algal poisoning, according to a research institute.

State Governor Rick Scott has allocated the equivalent of approximately SEK 4.5 million in emergency aid to local communities and businesses that have been affected.

Source: TT