Part 5/9:
The algae bloom crisis can be traced back to a few key culprits, with phosphorus acting as the primary instigator. As water flows into Lake Okeechobee from both commercial cattle ranches and fertilized sugar cane fields, it carries an excess of fertilizers that provoke harmful algal blooms. The result is increasingly toxic waters, leading to widespread damage both environmentally and economically. The detrimental effects manifest not just in the destruction of marine life but also in the erosion of the local fishing and tourism industries.