MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Increasing blooms of red tide are affecting beaches across the Bay area – just as thousands of visitors are coming to the region to enjoy spring break.

Those visitors are likely to face an unpleasant surprise as red tide has already made its mark on the shoreline.

What You Need To Know

Jack Kruger, a student at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, is visiting Manatee County with his friends on spring break.

“We noticed right when we got here. Everybody was coughing,” Kruger said of the red tide in Longboat Key, where they began the week. “A lot of fish off the water, and then in the water. Two of our friends have asthma, so we really couldn’t stay there for much longer.”

“It’s really unusual to have this sort of activity this time of year, but because we’ve always got these year round watches and the organization already in place to get this stuff mitigated, it hasn’t been a huge problem,” said Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.

That’s included using drones to keep tabs on red tide blooms and concentrations of dead fish. Boats scoop them up offshore and beaches are raked first thing in the morning.

Kruger said he and his friends noticed a difference when they moved to Coquina Beach after that first day.

Still a decent amount of fish, but today, beautiful – very clear,” said Kruger. “So, whatever they’re doing, I’d say keep it up.”

The effects of red tide have caused some visitors to experience symptoms such as throat irritation, sinus congestion and occasional coughing fits.

Officials in Manatee County are taking extra steps to control fish kills along the county’s waterways and beaches.

Ongoing operations from November through about mid-February had removed about a ton of fish and debris. Since late February – through earlier this week – the additional 7,000 pounds was collected.