Red Tide Lingers Past Typical Season In SWFL

An outbreak of red tide is killing fish along the southwest Florida coast. The algae that cause red tide were found in samples collected in the beaches of Collier and Lee counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Fish kills were reported at Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach and South Marco Beach among others. High concentrations are harmful to wildlife and can cause respiratory problems in humans. Coughing and breathing problems were reported in the two counties. Typically, red tide season is from late summer to early fall. This year, it has been lingering in southwest Florida for much of the spring.