Beachgoers and boaters got an all-clear.
With the end of a workweek and launch of the weekend, Manatee County put out a blast to beachgoers and boaters: the shores of Anna Maria Island are clear.
For the second week, crews were removing dead fish — a result of a red tide outbreak — from boat ramps and beaches.
The week beginning July 19, county crews removed dead fish at the Kingfish Boat Ramp but concentrated in the southern areas of Anna Maria Island — Longboat Pass, Coquina North, Coquina South in Bradenton Beach.
Also, roll-off dumpsters were placed at Coquina Beach and Manatee Public Beach to collect debris caused by the offshore bloom.
An intense red tide outbreak has hit the region, a summer outbreak some scientists and environmentalists say was fueled by the spring’s release of nutrient-rich wastewater from the defunct Piney Point phosphate plant.
The Tampa Bay Estuary Project has characterized the outbreak as the worst in 50 years but Manatee County, in a news release July 23, said there had not been severe impacts to its barrier island beaches.
“Manatee County government has intensified its daily beach raking efforts along the shores of Anna Maria Island and county staff have begun taking additional steps to address red tide before it reaches local beaches,” read the county statement.
“To date, Manatee County has avoided the worst impacts from an early summer red tide bloom, but county leaders are taking steps to ensure Manatee beaches remain clear from debris,” the statement continued.
The week beginning July 26, county officials planned to finalize an agreement with local boat captains enabling them to capture offshore red tide-related debris in nets before it reaches the coast, preventing fish kills from reaching the beach.
Also, this week, county commissioners were to discuss authorizing up to $500,000 in county tourist development taxes — the 5% bed tax on accommodations of six months or less — to pay for efforts to hold red tide at bay.
The county meeting was set to take place at 9 a.m. July 27, after The Islander went to press.
“We are staying ahead of this situation and we’ll be announcing additional efforts to keep our beaches clean and clear in the coming days,” county administrator Scott Hopes stated in a July 23 news release.
More on red tide: pages 16 and 21.
For information about red tide and island beaches, go online to www.mymanatee.org/redtide.
About Florida’s red tide
Red tide is a phenomenon caused by algal blooms.
The bloom may deplete oxygen in the waters and release toxins that can cause illness in humans and sicken or kill animals.
The Florida red tide organism is Karenia brevis.