Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach

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Red tide
FILE IMAGE- Red tide is bringing dead fish to the shores of Southwest Florida. (CREDIT: WINK News)

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.

The advisory was issued in response to a water sample taken on Dec. 9. and advises the public to be cautious in and around the area of Bowman’s Beach.

The Department of Health suggests visitors and residents take the following precautions:

  • Look for informational signage posted at public beaches and/or check the water quality status online.
  • Do not wade or swim in or around red tide.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you have had recent contact with red tide, especially if your skin is easily irritated.
  • Remain cautious and stay away from this location, especially if you have chronic respiratory conditions.
  • Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner.
  • Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish or distressed or dead fish from this location. If caught alive and healthy, finfish are safe to eat as long as they are filleted, and the guts are discarded. Rinse fillets with tap or bottled water.
  • Keep animals away and out of the water and sea life and away from dead marine life. If your pet swims in waters with red tide, wash them with soap and water as soon as possible.

If you see a fish kill on Sanibel or anywhere on southwest Florida’s coasts, you can click here to report it online to FWC.

To see the Red Tide map data, click here.

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