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Concerns over red tide in Southwest Florida ahead of Thanksgiving holiday

Posted at 8:32 AM, Nov 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-26 08:32:02-05

NAPLES, Fla -- Red tide continues to be an issue along several Southwest Florida coastlines. With the Thanksgiving holiday around the corner, Fox 4 is checking in on the current conditions for you.

Southwest Florida has been struggling with red tide for the past several weeks. The latest results of water samplings are from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation just a few days ago.
They showed high concentrations of red tide in 27 of their samples stretching from Charlotte to Collier County. It was seen as far north as Boca Grande and as far south as Marco Island.

Conditions appeared to be improved Tuesday morning on Vanderbilt Beach, which previously showed high concentrations of red tide. However, just a few days ago people on the beach told Fox 4 conditions were unbearable. They said they experienced respiratory irritation and saw handfuls of dead fish washed up onshore.

“People were coughing, employees had their clothes over their face and little kids were going ‘Why am I coughing?’” said Janice Whippert, who said she is visiting Vanderbilt Beach for the holiday.

If you're hoping to make plans to visit a Southwest Florida beach over the holiday, FWC said it will have updated red tide results out on Wednesday.