Why are there so many dead fish on Fort Myers Beach?

Red tide is caused by a naturally occurring microscopic marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. With the right water temperature and nutrients, K. brevis can multiply quickly, creating a harmful algal bloom that produces a toxin that can cause death to marine life and and respiratory irritation in humans.



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The most common cause of fish kills is suffocation due to lack of dissolved oxygen. Most dissolved oxygen is produced by algae and aquatic plants through photosynthesis. A lesser but also important source of oxygen in water is diffusion from the atmosphere, which is enhanced by wind-induced surface water turbulence.

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Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that is washing up on beaches in Florida. As it rots, it gives off a substance called hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide has a very unpleasant odor, like rotten eggs.

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How long does red tide last? There's no exact answer to this question. Red tide can last for days, weeks and sometimes months. It can also change daily depending on wind conditions and ocean currents.

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