Dead fish cleared from Collier County beach experiencing red tide

Collier County is experiencing medium to high concentrations of Red Tide, causing an unwelcoming sight for some beaches.

There’s no denying the presence of Red Tide in Collier County. The signs on the beach are all around from people coughing or rubbing their eyes.

Last week Naples Beach looked like a rotten seafood buffet.

But a week later, young 4-year-old Jack only saw one dead fish on the beach.

For Jack, not having to watch his step or plug his nose was a pleasant surprise.

“They must’ve cleaned things up,” Jack said.

That’s exactly what they did. On Friday, the county said they added two more boats to the cleanup efforts for a total of four. All four of those boats are dedicated to cleaning the fish off the sand and making the beach beautiful again.

“It looked beautiful today,” Jack said.

Even without the dead fish washing ashore, lingering signs of Red Tide, like the coughing, remain.

While the beach may have been pristine on Tuesday, the county said in a press release that the tide could change and the winds could blow all those dead fish right back to the beach. So patience is key for the time being.

It’s important to remember that nearly every Collier County beach is under a Red Tide alert so swimming is probably not your best option.