The health department’s decisions have a huge impact on local economies, which directly depends on touristic activities on the Fourth of July weekend that brings numerous visitors to the region (Cummings et al. 303). If the health department decides to close all the beaches, many of the weekend activities will be canceled. Therefore, such a decision will cause a serious loss of income for the population of the region earning their living from working in the tourism business.
The alternative local health department decisions can include either disposal of the fish that have died during red tide conditions or its effective utilization. Efficient utilization will help to reduce the negative impact on the environment caused by the mass kill of the fish. Disposal of fish can cause a lack of fish supplies and promote the necessity to overuse water resources for providing the new supply of fish for the season. The health department’s decision to support investments in studies aimed at revealing the algorithms of the development of red tide and the possible methods of its prevention might help to minimize harm to the environment (“Scientists Work to Predict and Prevent Algae Blooms” par. 5).
The information about the specifics of red tide and its influence on human health is crucial for effective decision making. The objective information about the possible implications of exposure to red tide microorganisms needs to be the basis for appropriate decisions. The health department should oppose the spreading of misleading statements by the mass media and present the information that is relevant and well-grounded.
The health department should launch a well-structured campaign for presenting relevant information about the risks and causes of exposure to red tide microorganisms. Appropriate informative messages should be spread by the means of local television, radio, and printed matters. The health department should quickly react to the occurrence of any misleading articles in mass media and respond to them to ensure that the population is aware of their untrue nature.
Various stakeholders are affected by the incident: people involved in the seafood industry, local restaurants, employees of companies providing touristic activities, employees of the beaches, etc. Each of the mentioned stakeholders will face severe negative effects of the incident, as their work and earnings depend on the safety of water resources. Caregivers and health department employees will also face some challenges related to the incident as they will have to accomplish more tasks related to caring for patients suffering from certain symptoms of exposure to red tide microorganisms.
The health department can choose one of the two solutions. The first one is to keep the beaches open and provide efficacious activities aimed at informing all residents and visitors about the precaution methods and risks related to red tide exposure. Such a solution is based on the assumption about the absence of urgent public health concerns caused by the red tide (Florida Department of Health 1). Besides the solution suggests efficient utilization of dead fish that present no harm to human health (Escambia County Health Department 2). Such a solution will benefit all stakeholders and help both to prevent negative consequences of red tide and avoid panic and derangement of the Fourth of July weekend. The second solution is to close the beaches, cancel all entertaining activities, and dispose of dead fish. Such a solution will harm all stakeholders and is not grounded on objective information about red tide.
The ethical issues related to the discussed problem arise from the recommendation to strive for preventing human exposure to red tide organisms. The ethical challenge is related to the question of whether society has the responsibility to prevent the negative effects of red tide on mammals and other animals affected by it (“What Is a Red Tide?” par.1). The causes of red tide include the thoughtless use of nutrient-rich materials in agriculture (Lee par. 1). Therefore, society needs to attain the responsibility for protecting the animals from the negative consequences of human activities leading to red tide.
Works Cited
Cummings, Tina, Willie Lipato, Mustafa Mohd, and Alan Rowan. “Case 10: Red Tide and Red Ink in Escambia County, Florida.” Public Health Leadership & Management: Cases and Context. Ed. Stuart Capper, Peter Ginter, and Linda Swayne. New York: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2002. 299-307. Print.
Escambia County Health Department. Red Tide Health Advisory: Red Tide Present along Pensacola Beach, Pensacola, Florida: DOH Escambia County Health Department, 2007. Print.
Florida Department of Health. Red Tide Health Advisory, Pensacola, Florida: DOH Escambia County Health Department, 2005. Print.
Lee, Christine. “Red Tide.” The Encyclopedia of Tourism and Recreation in Marine Environments. Ed. Michael Luck. Oxford: CABI, 2008. Web.
Scientists Work to Predict and Prevent Algae Blooms. n.d. Web.
What Is a Red Tide? n.d. Web.