Originally Published: October 1, 2018 | Article Courtesy: www.wpbf.com | Please click here for original article.

Florida Oceanography Society relies on saltwater from mammals

Members at the Florida Oceanography Society want the marine life they’re safekeeping to feel at home. And, that means saltwater from the ocean.

“We have sharks and sea turtles and tarpon and large game fish. We take in seawater from underneath the beach at about 600 gallons a minute of sand filtered seawater,” said executive director Mark Perry.

With the possibility of red tide seeping into our coastal water, that could make it hazardous.

“For the animals it’s just devastating. We have to be concerned because our touch tanks and our water filtration systems come from the ocean,” said Perry.

The facility boasts three levels of water filtration combined with regular testing. Plus they’re on the lookout for signs and symptoms of red tide in the marine life.

“There’s a big concern. I was just curious how they filter the water, they have a bunch of animals they’re trying to keep healthy and a bunch of people trying to put their hands in the water,” said one visitor from Jensen Beach.

Already experts are on high alert, for instance empty containers will house sea turtles if the red tide becomes too concentrated. And they’ll be forced to make their own saltwater.

“The symptoms are pretty quick and depending on the size of the bloom, when the bloom gets very prevalent, everything in its path is basically affected all the marine life,” said Perry.

Officials at the facility say they will monitoring the water quality very closely.

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Image Courtesy: wplg.com