Accumulation Of Stinky Dead Fish Prompts Barrage Of Complaints

TAMPA BAY, FL — Residents living along the coast of some Tampa Bay communities say the odor from red tide fish kills is making it impossible for them to venture outdoors.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said storm surge from Tropical Storm Elsa, which moved through the Tampa Bay area Tuesday, washed dead fish, stingrays, sharks and other marine life onto beaches and into canals where rotting fish have accumulated around docks and seawalls.

In the past week, fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties, according to the FWC. The largest fish kills have occurred in St. Petersburg and areas along the Intracoastal Waterway.

While the odor may be a nuisance, the Fish and Wildlife Health Group at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, based in St. Petersburg, is concerned how red tide is impacting the health of Florida's marine and estuarine organisms, especially manatees, which are experiencing a record number of deaths this year. The FWC reported 841 manatee deaths between Jan. 1 and July 2.

Residents should contact the institute at 800-636-0511, through the FWC Reporter app or by submitting a report online if they see:

• A disease condition such as fish with lesions or tumors
• A harmful algal bloom or discolored water
• A species, such as green mussels, that you think may be an invasive species in the aquatic environment

The counties and the FWC are continuing to monitor concentrations of red tide detected in waters around Tampa Bay following Tropical Storm Elsa.

As a result, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has issued health alerts for Picnic Island, Davis Island, E.G. Simmons Park and Bahia Beach.

Additionally, caution signs have been placed at Ben T. Davis and Cypress Point beaches.

There are no beach closures for Pinellas and Pasco county beaches at this time; however, both departments are warning residents to stay away from beaches if they experience symptoms from red tide.

Some people may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, similar to cold symptoms, especially if the wind is blowing onshore. Those with breathing problems such as asthma might experience more-severe symptoms.

The symptoms usually go away when a person leaves the area or goes indoors. Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas or go into an air-conditioned space. If symptoms do not subside, they should contact their doctor.

The DOH also recommends the following:

• Do not swim around dead fish.
• If you have chronic respiratory problems, be careful and consider staying away from the beach.
• Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish from areas with red tide.
• Do not harvest or eat distressed or dead fish from areas with red tide.
• Rinse fillets from healthy fish with tap or bottled water.
• Keep pets and livestock away from the water, sea foam and dead sea life.

Residents can check the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast tool or Mote Marine Laboratory's Beach Reporting System before heading to the beach.

Residents who find dead fish near their boat dock can retrieve them with a skimmer and dispose of them with their regular trash or call their local municipality for additional guidance.

Occurrences of red tide in the Gulf of Mexico have been documented for centuries, but blooms can be worsened by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Residents are reminded that fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus should not be used through Sept. 30 unless a soil test confirms that it is needed.

FWC

See related stories:

• High Levels Of Red Tide Detected In Hillsborough, Pasco Counties
• Rotten Fish Bodies From Red Tide Foul Bay, City Cleans Up