Beachgoers at Lido Beach were met with an unsettling sight as dead fish lined the shore, stretching as far as the eye could see. Some visitors paused to take photos, while others observed the scene in silence.

“When we first walked in from the back of the beach, we immediately noticed a line of dead fish along the shoreline,” said Jeremy Barberine, a visitor from New York.

Despite the red tide’s presence, Barberine, Leslie Pliss, and their family remained unfazed during their vacation.

“I’m glad we’re here. It’s still beautiful,” Pliss said. “There’s a bit of a smell, but it’s not too bad. I’m not coughing or sneezing or anything.”

However, not everyone felt the same. For some, the odor and sight of the fish were overwhelming.

“I knew red tide had been an issue before, but I wasn’t aware it was happening now,” said Katie Miranda. “When I saw all the dead fish, I decided I wasn’t going in the water.”

Despite the conditions, Miranda and her friends stayed to celebrate her birthday, opting for a spot farther from the shoreline.

“I’m not letting this ruin my birthday,” she said. “I’ll enjoy the beach for as long as I can handle it.”

Mote Marine Laboratory confirmed the presence of red tide after conducting sampling and field tests. Their team continues to analyze data from before and after the bloom.

“Mote will provide more information once our team has fully reviewed the data,” they told local news WTVT.

Even with the red tide, many chose to stay at the beach, taking advantage of a day off.

“We’ve experienced a few red tides before,” said Henley Connor. “I live about two miles inland, and you can even feel it there. But if you’re not noticing it too much, come on out.”

For updates on red tide conditions, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s red tide status page or Mote’s beach condition map.

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(Image credit: WTVT)

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