ST. JAMES CITY, Fla. — Massive red tide fish kills were seen off St. James City, Monday. Dead fish gathered at the ends of canals in the area, and were seen out on the open water.
Those who have lived in St. James City for years tell 4 In Your Corner this red tide fish kill is bigger than they’ve ever seen before. “It’s thousands upon thousands of dead fish. It’s absolutely devastating,” said Zach Kibbe.
Kibble is a dock master at a local fish house. He said since the red tide started, his family’s business is dwindling. “Every week it’s just getting slower and slower,” he said.
He also explains fishermen are now having to go further out to sea to catch fish they could normally catch locally. “If fish aren’t being brought into this fish house, I’m not packing fish, and we’re not sending it up to the places in North America they need to be sent to,” he said.
“This is going to hurt the industry for a while,” said bartender Mary Fowler. People come here to fish, people come here this time of year to tarpon fish. I don’t see anyone doing that.”
