Keewaydin Island and Naples Beach During a Red Tide Outbreak

Mother and Juvenile Dolphin Swimming in a Bay Behind Keewaydin Island

Keewaydin Island, located between Marco Island and Naples is one of the most popular areas to see dolphins in Southwest Florida. A couple of weeks ago, I went out with the Collier County Waterkeeper to see if red tide was still there or if it and moved. We were looking for fish kills or any dead larger creatures like turtles or dolphins. I was relieved that the worst of the red tide had moved north to Naples Beach, since breathing near red tide is not good for your health and we were out in the boat for quite some time. There are neurotoxins in red tide too, not just in cyanobacteria, that are making people and creatures ill. In fact, as of the middle of June, 279 dolphins have washed up dead on the Gulf Coast, about 175 of those in Southwest Florida. There have been so many dolphin deaths that NOAA has dubbed it a significant mortality event and research is still being done on the cause. All the dead dolphins had brevetoxin in their systems. Red tide produces aerosols that entered the air. One reason dolphins are particularly at risk is that they breathe the air and the eat dead fish.

Though we saw living dolphin and they didn’t appear to be suffering yet, they are at risk because a red tide bloom is present again and there have been reports of dead fish from Marco Island to Naples and all the way up to Sarasota and Bradenton. We didn’t cough or experience really bad air, except in one back bay. Most of the bloom had shifted to Naples Beach.

Keewaydin Island on the Gulf with Vultures Flying over a Back Bay

We took the boat out in the Gult along the length of Keewaydin Island. It is an important barrier island that protects the coast. The driftwood and dead trees from rising sea level was apparent and vultures were circling over head, probably as a result from dead fish accumulating in the back bays. The water was definitely clearer in the Gulf, although we thought we spotted a dead turtle in an area with lots of rocks where we couldn’t take the boat since it was so choppy. About 60 turtles were reported to have died in October in Collier County alone, likely as a result of the red tide.

Keewaydin Island Bayside

The mangroves are one of the most important plants for and other tropical coastal areas, as they filter water and hold the land in place. However, red tides back mangroves sick as well.

Eagle, Keewaydin Island

The mangroves and native vegetation provide habitat for eagles and other birds as well.

Blue Heron Looking for Food in a Back Bay of Keewaydin Island

In an area where the water appeared more toxic, we came across the heron looking for fish. When red tide blooms intensify, there are fewer fish for the birds and dolphin to eat, and when they do eat them they become ill. The number of birds in Florida experiencing neurological problems has increased. They often appear lost and confused.

Juvenile Osprey on top of a Channel Marker

Naples Beach with Dead Fish and a Flock of Sea Birds Congregating Near Red Tide Toxins

There were red tide all up and down the beach. I did not stay long, as it isn’t safe to breathe the air eve if you don’t suffer from respiratory ailments. Right before I left, I saw this bird eating one of the dead fish. Dog owners should never bring their pets to a beach where dead fish have washed ashore, as they can become sick or even die too. The toxins in the foam where the waves hit the shore is 10 times higher, and of course they can ingest toxins like this bird is doing. For people that live near the beach, they should bring their pets inside, so they don’t get respiratory infections. Birds should be kept indoors and not on lanai’s.

I grew up in Florida and their were always red tides, but never like they have been in recent years. It is heart breaking to see how severe they have become, and Florida could become uninhabitable along the coastlines if it is not addressed. I saw several tourists leaving, one who came from New Zealand, who were disappointed and upset by all the dead fish. If I still lived in Florida, I would be demanding action. The health impacts will likely get worse if nutrients aren’t reduced, as warming ocean temperatures cause algae blooms to intensify. These may not be pretty pictures, but I hope they raise awareness and motivate people in Florida to demand action from the politicians who are supposed to be representing them.