Gulf Coast fishermen for years have seen the devastation of red tide on a fishery—the west coast of Florida is still recovering from it. Essential Image Source Foundation and Solutions To Avoid Red Tide (START) have teamed up to document, entirely in High Definition, the impact of red tide on an environ and surrounding economy, as well as current research into its possible prediction, causes and potential prevention. A recent report in the journal Science, by MIT professor Timothy Jamison, detailed a procedure in which he was able to duplicate a cascade-type chemical reaction to produce the red tide toxins—a theory suggested in 1985 by chemist Koji Nakanishi but never demonstrated until now.

The documentary is set on the Gulf side of Florida, an area almost routinely hit with some degree of red tide, patterning since the late 90s. “Red Tide has become a critical problem here on the west coast of Florida,” says David Miller, a Longboat Key marina owner. “Within the last few years we’ve seen the decimation of almost all sea life, although it is beginning to make a comeback. On top of that, because of the odor from the algae and the rotting fish, the tourism industry takes a huge hit and that is a major part of our economy here.”

Other partners in the documentary include Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Center for Fisheries and Habitat Research. Look for the premiere later this year at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s Immersion Theater in Sarasota, Florida. When completed, the film will be available to museums, aquariums, schools and the general public.