MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County is expanding its red tide cleanup. Starting Monday, crews in Manatee will move clean up efforts to smaller canals and waterways.
- Manatee County struggling with high levels of red tide
- County to focus on cleaning up smaller waterways this weekend
- Red tide hotline now available 7-days a week: 941-749-3547
- RELATED: Gov. Scott declares red tide emergency in 7 Florida counties
A lot of dead fish have been piling up in the smaller waterways and for some residents, the smell is unbearable.
County employees assessed where the worst conditions are this weekend, then made an action plan. Vendors will head out Monday to start cleaning up, beginning with the most affected areas.
Since the waterways are so narrow, they will use boats and nets by hand.
Local fishermen have been helping with the effort, but county employees say help is still needed from the public because this method won't remove every dead fish.
"We're not going to be able to remove the floating fish in our open bays, our rivers,and the gulf. Not gonna be able to do it all. But where they've collected by the tide and by nook and cranny and conner, that's where we're going to go," Manatee County Director of Parks and Rec Charlie Hunsicker said.
So far, crews have removed 151 tons of waste related to the red tide bloom along public beaches and parks.
Starting Monday, a hotline will also be available for residents who have questions or concerns about red tide. The hotline, 941-749-3547, is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Red tide has also reached other counties in the Bay area.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's water testing on Friday found red tide in very low concentrations in eight locations around Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. However, those concentrations were too low to be toxic to marine life.