Red tide bloom spotted off Lee County
Nov 28, 2011 6:17 PM EST
SANIBEL ISLAND, FL -
Marine biologists from the Sanibel Sea School as well as scientists from FGCU are saying red tide is back in full force.
They're saying that's what's responsible for killing hundreds of Mullet, Atlantic Spearfish and Angelfish in Estero Bay this weekend. Biologists say more dead fish are headed toward Lee County beaches.
Water samples taken by FGCU and the Sanibel Sea School all show moderate to high levels of the red tide bloom.
Satellite images taken Sunday show the bloom just west of Sanibel and south near Bonita Springs.
It runs 40 miles long and is 25 miles off shore. Scientists say the reason this bloom is so threatening is because it's so close to shore, where there's less water and less oxygen, so the toxin has a bigger impact.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we saw some dead fish on the beach. There are dead fish out there not too far offshore and the winds coming out of the south in a direction that would put them on the beach," said Dr. Bruce Neill with Sanibel Sea School.
Red tide blooms of this concentration can cause widespread fish kills. The toxin actually paralyzes fish gills so they suffocate to death. These toxins also cause lung irritation in humans. You may notice an itchy throat and develop a cough. No swim advisories have been issued at this time.
NBC News
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