Anna Maria Red Tide

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Kinggie

We were in Naples last year and went to the beach that was empty (couldnt work out why! )I went into the water up to my waist. Didn’t know about the red tide although the dead fishes around the edge should have been a warning sign 🙄🙄🙄

See more...

Thankfully you were ok, last years water was dangerously toxic.

Last year, a lass who lives on Bokeelia, took her year old bairn to Cape Coral beach, within hours the bairn ended up in hospital for 9 nights, high fever, fitting, lethargic, no matter what tests they did they couldn't pin it down. Eventually she pulled round and came home. She discovered a couple of days afore they went to CC beach 'do not go in the water' signs had been removed, but still didn't make the connection, until she returned to CC beach recently, 23rd May and, you guessed it, bairn rushed to hospital within hours with the exact symptoms. She's concerned high toxins remain in the water and may cause another bad summer once Lake O releases begin... hoping not!

[Kinggie]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Thankfully you were ok, last years water was dangerously toxic.

Last year, a lass who lives on Bokeelia, took her year old bairn to Cape Coral beach, within hours the bairn ended up in hospital for 9 nights, high fever, fitting, lethargic, no matter what tests they did they couldn't pin it down. Eventually she pulled round and came home. She discovered a couple of days afore they went to CC beach 'do not go in the water' signs had been removed, but still didn't make the connection, until she returned to CC beach recently, 23rd May and, you guessed it, bairn rushed to hospital within hours with the exact symptoms. She's concerned high toxins remain in the water and may cause another bad summer once Lake O releases begin... hoping not!

See more...

OMG I didn’t realise it was that bad. Tbh I was fine. Dd and hubby paddled in but I fancied a swim. Only went in to my waist and chickened out as it was so cold otherwise I probably would have swam in it. Tbh I didn’t know what red tide was so even if I seen some signs I probably would have still been clueless.

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Kinggie

OMG I didn’t realise it was that bad. Tbh I was fine. Dd and hubby paddled in but I fancied a swim. Only went in to my waist and chickened out as it was so cold otherwise I probably would have swam in it. Tbh I didn’t know what red tide was so even if I seen some signs I probably would have still been clueless.

See more...

Hi Kinggie - it was a culmination of a red tide that didn't clear out, as it usually does in Feb, joined by utter filth on Lake O known as cyanobacteria (blue/green algae), it was horrific last year, Ft Myers Beach was empty, and I mean empty, rarely a soul to be seen, the City of Ft Myer's offered free parking on the beach and nobody was interested. Businesses/restaurants closed as there was no point in being open, other businesses went bust, I've never seen anything like it, usually FMB is overflowing with families, it was a ghost town. Over 10% of Fl manatee died as a result (over 700), 25 foot whale shark washed up on Sanibel. Thousands of of tons of perished marine life, every kind you can think of... and still the Army Corp of Engineers continued to spew green filth from Lake O. Currently Lake O is a floating mass of cyanobacteria, but, at the moment, red tide is staying miles out. Every possible run off you can think of from human to animal waste, to phosphates to waste from the sugar factories, everything comes down from north Fl and settles in Lake O... Lake O epitomises that saving, 's*** rolls downhill', and man does it run fast.

Thankfully this year is expected to be ok, there may be some cyanobacteria, but hopefully not too much.

[Kinggie]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Hi Kinggie - it was a culmination of a red tide that didn't clear out, as it usually does in Feb, joined by utter filth on Lake O known as cyanobacteria (blue/green algae), it was horrific last year, Ft Myers Beach was empty, and I mean empty, rarely a soul to be seen, the City of Ft Myer's offered free parking on the beach and nobody was interested. Businesses/restaurants closed as there was no point in being open, other businesses went bust, I've never seen anything like it, usually FMB is overflowing with families, it was a ghost town. Over 10% of Fl manatee died as a result (over 700), 25 foot whale shark washed up on Sanibel. Thousands of of tons of perished marine life, every kind you can think of... and still the Army Corp of Engineers continued to spew green filth from Lake O. Currently Lake O is a floating mass of cyanobacteria, but, at the moment, red tide is staying miles out. Every possible run off you can think of from human to animal waste, to phosphates to waste from the sugar factories, everything comes down from north Fl and settles in Lake O... Lake O epitomises that saving, 's*** rolls downhill', and man does it run fast.

Thankfully this year is expected to be ok, there may be some cyanobacteria, but hopefully not too much.

See more...

Thanks for the explanation Chris. Such a shame about the loss of marine life and all the businesses that suffered as a result. Naples beach was deserted last August. Only us and another family that were obviously as clueless as us.

I do hope it clears up this year.

[JimmyCricket]

We are booked in on Captiva end of August...I have booked other accommodation on Vero beach (can cancel up to 48hrs before we go for free) in case we have the same issues as last year.
Just hoping we dont have to change from Captiva as we love the place 😀

[discostu]

We were in Anna Maria last August and will be again this August...I am delighted this thread is here , but also really worried when I see any new messages on it

[fredflintstone]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Hi Kinggie - it was a culmination of a red tide that didn't clear out, as it usually does in Feb, joined by utter filth on Lake O known as cyanobacteria (blue/green algae), it was horrific last year, Ft Myers Beach was empty, and I mean empty, rarely a soul to be seen, the City of Ft Myer's offered free parking on the beach and nobody was interested. Businesses/restaurants closed as there was no point in being open, other businesses went bust, I've never seen anything like it, usually FMB is overflowing with families, it was a ghost town. Over 10% of Fl manatee died as a result (over 700), 25 foot whale shark washed up on Sanibel. Thousands of of tons of perished marine life, every kind you can think of... and still the Army Corp of Engineers continued to spew green filth from Lake O. Currently Lake O is a floating mass of cyanobacteria, but, at the moment, red tide is staying miles out. Every possible run off you can think of from human to animal waste, to phosphates to waste from the sugar factories, everything comes down from north Fl and settles in Lake O... Lake O epitomises that saving, 's*** rolls downhill', and man does it run fast.

Thankfully this year is expected to be ok, there may be some cyanobacteria, but hopefully not too much.

See more...

What I don't understand is that when BP had an oil spill that did not impact fish life in that area the hotels,business and cities sued and got billions from the evil British Petroleum, but when the US army corp cause a much major environental disaster,and same with St Pete putting raw sewage into the gulf, its allowed and its ok, with no compensation and peoples lifes ruined.

I know the Brits are not always liked, but seems like 2 rules.