When I came home to Punta Gorda for the summer, I was expecting frequent trips to the beach and outings on the boat. Much to my disappointment, I never made it to the beach and I only went on the boat twice because red tide prohibited such actions. Unless I wanted to be surrounded by dead fish and a vile smell, I was forced to stay away from water activities.
There is something on the local news every day about red tide, whether it's discussing the amounts of dead sea creatures, the effect on local businesses and residents, or what the government is trying to do to get rid of it. Red tide is the talk of the summer because of how disruptive it is to the ecosystem along the west coast of Florida.
Red tide has affected Florida for almost two centuries and it only seems to be getting worse. On this occurrence, it has been affecting Florida for the past few months but it could continue for a few more months or even a year before it subsides.
The big problem is that there is very little they can do to control it. Scientists are working to find a solution but it could take a while before it is viable and effective since they don't just have to worry about the algae, they also have to worry about the toxins. Air and water are both issues needing to be fixed.
Although this isn't a problem where I live right now, it may become one in the near future. If the problem of red tide isn't solved soon, it will most likely continue to spread to the canals of Punta Gorda, affecting more people and sea creatures. It needs to be stopped before it engulfs the southwest waterways.
In some areas, people can't even leave their homes without catching a whiff. I can't imagine looking out on my dock and seeing dead fish floating by. I would be horrified and disgusted. I wouldn't even want to stay here because I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself. Which is why so many reservations with hotels and condos are being canceled by out of towners looking to go to the beach and enjoy good weather.
Other local businesses are suffering as well. The lack of tourists is taking a great toll on businesses who make most of their money from people traveling to enjoy the beach and surrounding areas. To make matters worse, they can't do anything about it until the red tide is cleared. By that time, the damage may already be done because those who have canceled this year may not come back next week due to fear of dealing with red tide again.
What makes me sad about this situation is the sea creatures. Fish are one thing but manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles make it so much more devastating. Seeing dead animals in the water and washing ashore is heartbreaking. I really hope they can fix this before it gets worse.