Bullock sends crew back to Country Club Shores for dead fish cleanup

Strong easterly winds brought dead fish associated with red tide back to Country Club Shores canals Tuesday just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Town Manager Dave Bullock, though, authorized the town’s emergency debris contractor to head back to the canals early this morning to clean the canals again. The contractor will work all day to clean what’s perceived as a smaller amount of dead fish than the last go around.

“Because of the holiday I’m authorizing the cleaning of the canals again on Wednesday,” Bullock said Tuesday afternoon.

The contractor worked from Sept. 20 to Sept. 22 cleaning the canals, billing the town $14,489.99 to remove approximately 6,000 pounds of dead fish and seaweed.

But when strong winds associated with a cold front picked up again earlier this week, some dead fish that funneled in through New Pass made its way to the canals again.

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

Red tide is a harmful algae that causes respiratory irritation in humans and serious health issues in marine life and pets.

The town does not clean up minor fish kills from its shores but will offer assistance for moderate to severe fish kills if Bullock deems it necessary.

Bullock is using a $50,000 budget line item for red tide cleanup to get rid of the dead fish. 

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].