What was shaping up to be a tourism season starting with spring break, could be derailed because of what officials are finding in the water at area beaches.
Recent samples are showing higher levels of the the algae that causes red tide at beaches from Englewood all the way up to Siesta Key. The Herald-Tribune reports it could be a sign that a large bloom that’s been off the SW Florida coast since last fall has started moving north again. Officials say there have been small numbers of dead fish at several beaches, incpuding Venice. The best advice for now is to check the Mote Marine Laboratory Beach Conditions Report, online: www.mote.org/beaches.