Red tide fish cleanup is underway

Thousands of dead fish littering bayside canals is being cleaned up this morning by a debris contractor.

After inspecting several Longboat Key bayside waterways Wednesday, Bullock authorized the use of some of a $50,000 budget line item for red tide cleanup use to get rid of the dead fish. 

The contractor started work in Country Club Shores canals and is working its way north, scooping up dead fish and depositing it on a mainland site for transport to a Bradenton landfill. The job will be finished on Saturday.

Strong easterly winds and currents brought a concentration of dead fish associated with red tide algae blooms into bayside canals and onto Beer Can Island.

Medium concentrations of red tide in Manatee and Sarasota counties have been reported over the last month.

Red tide algae blooms have been detected off the coast in both Manatee and Sarasota counties. 

The town of Longboat Key does not clean up minor fish kills from its shores but will offer assistance for moderate to severe fish kills if its deemed necessary by Bullock.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].