NEWS

Dozens of fish, turtle found dead on Marco Island as red tide levels rise

Omar Rodriguez Ortiz
Marco Eagle
A young man plays with sand on South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. A few feet away from him, a dead fish rots. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
A young man plays with sand on South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. A few feet away from him, a dead fish rots. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Oct. 9 on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide. Everglades.
Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Oct. 9 on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide. Everglades.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
A bird eats a dead fish on South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
A bird eats a dead fish on South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Oct. 9 on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Oct. 9 on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
"We were a little concerned at first but then we go in," said Kerry Jester of Delaware. Jester was on South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9 with her husband Bart Jester and their daughters Brenna and Brooke. Brenna was celebrating her 11th birthday. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
"We were a little concerned at first but then we go in," said Kerry Jester of Delaware. Jester was on South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9 with her husband Bart Jester and their daughters Brenna and Brooke. Brenna was celebrating her 11th birthday. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
Two men enjoy the water of South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Two men enjoy the water of South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
A woman and two kids enjoy the water of South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
A woman and two kids enjoy the water of South Beach, Marco Island, on Oct. 9. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz/Staff
A dead sea turtle was found by Collier County turtle patrol on Big Marco Pass on Oct. 9, according to Brittany Piersma, bird biologist for Audubon of the Western Everglades. "They mark the ones they find with paint so they do not recount them," wrote in an email to the Eagle. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
A dead sea turtle was found by Collier County turtle patrol on Big Marco Pass on Oct. 9, according to Brittany Piersma, bird biologist for Audubon of the Western Everglades. "They mark the ones they find with paint so they do not recount them," wrote in an email to the Eagle. Dozens of dead fish washed ashore Wednesday on Marco Island as government agencies alerted of high levels of the organism that causes the red tide.
Provided By Brittany Piersma