Algal bloom killing fish at Port Charlotte Beach Park

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla.–Charlotte County is seeing a large amount of dead fish washing up on its shores. Scientists are working to figure out what killed them.

“Any kill is bad, you know, but what can I say? I’m a fisherman and its not a nice thing for me to see.” said Bob Imsho, of Punta Gorda 

For weeks, Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has had medium concentrations of Red Tide according to FWC. However, the park has not suffered from dead fish until now.  

Rick Bartleson from the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation said a wind change is likely to the cause of the fish kill, blowing in an algal bloom that choked the fish. 

He said the water from Piney Point is likely not the culprit.

“The currents don’t come into Charlotte Harbor from Tampa Bay. The US has a model where the plume is going from the Piney Point spill right now.”  said Rick Bartleson, from SCCF. 

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