Red tide continues to linger off SWFL coast; visitors see different impacts

What are believed to be the effects of red tide have put a damper on relaxation time for many in Collier County.

Dead fish can be seen floating in Venetian Bay in Naples Monday, and red tide is believed to be the likely culprit.

Johnny Lee and Fred Durham, who were roommates in college, have been friends for more than 50 years. They’re from Tennessee, but they’ve been meeting up for decades in Southwest Florida to kick back together.

“We enjoy the beautiful weather,” Lee said. “We’ve been coming to Naples off and on for 40 years.”

While they enjoy the outdoors and walking along Venetian Bay, present conditions have not been optimal for their enjoyment.

“Being on the beach a couple of days ago, didn’t really notice any fish on the beach, but then this morning here in the canals back through here, it’s quite prevalent from dead fish,” Durham said.

“It smells bad; it hurts; it makes you cough; and it’s a miserable, environmental mess,” Lee said.

They’re not the only visitors experiencing the effects near the beach.

“It looks horrible,” Carol Shepard said. “It smells awful, and it’s really put a sad note on really a tough time in Naples right now.”

For Shepard, red tide affects her breathing and where she exercises.

“If I go outside and my lungs, I can feel it,” Shepard said. “I’ll actually drive further east to get away and have my walk there, but it’s really affected my experience this winter.”

We reached out to both the City of Naples and The Village Shops on Venetian Bay to see who is responsible for cleanup of the area. We are still waiting to hear back.

In the meantime, everyone is trying to do what they can to enjoy paradise.

“We love it here, and we know everybody else is having the same issue,” Lee said. “So we’re just dealing with it and making it, but certainly everybody here is not enjoying things as much as they would if it wasn’t for the red tide. It’s unfortunate for everybody.”