SIESTA KEY, Fla. -- Thousands of dead fish lined the coast of Siesta Key Beach on Wednesday while only a few dozen people roamed the sand.
- Foul smell keeping residents, visitors away
- Popular shops by beach didn't open Wednesday
- Red tide reported in many areas across SW Florida
"It looks like a ghost town. There's nobody here," resident Leidi Gonzalez said.
Those who were there were left to deal with the respiratory irritation and watery eyes that red tide blooms are known for.
"My throat is kind of itchy, and my grandmother is coughing," Gonzalez said. "I don't think we're going to stay out here for long."
Many beachgoers who spoke with Spectrum Bay News 9 said it was one of the worst days at Siesta Key Beach since the red tide bloom started. Some of the popular rental spots and shops by the beach didn't even open for business on Wednesday.
Red tide is a type of algae bloom that depletes oxygen in the water and can kill marine life.
Scientist Tracy Fanara with Mote Marine Laboratory says the blooms are patchy, and often very hard to predict. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration works to forecast where the blooms will go next, based on currents and wind speeds.
As of Aug. 1, the red tide has been reported in many areas across Southwest Florida, going as far north as Lido Beach. Although it's not predicted to spread into Manatee County, it is possible.
"It's so hard to say how much longer a bloom is going to stick around," Fanara said.
Although the effects of red tide may not be serious for the average person, those with asthma or COPD should stay away from the shore when a bloom is present.