Gov. Rick Scott declares state of emergency for red tide outbreak in southwest Florida

Chad Gillis | The News-Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Red Tide prompts state of emergency in Florida The naturally occurring phenomenon has already killed manatees, sea turtles and millions of pounds of fish.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for seven southwest Florida counties because of the effects of a toxic algae bloom called red tide.

The declaration for Charlotte, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties will provide money and resources to combat the problem that has lingered since October, at times stretching from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys. Red tide — a naturally occurring algae that affects the central nervous system of aquatic organisms and can lead to respiratory irritation in people — has killed manatees, hundreds of sea turtles and millions of pounds of fish.

"Biologists and scientists (will be made) available to assist in clean-up and animal rescue efforts," Scott said in a news release.

Florida's tourism agency will receive $500,000 to create an emergency grant program to help communities promote travel to the affected areas. Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota will receive $100,000 to help with animal rescue.

► Aug. 9: What travelers should know about Florida's red tide outbreak

► Aug. 7: Are the toxic algae blooms along Florida's coasts making people sick?

The red tide declaration comes a month after the governor declared a state of emergency for Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties on both coasts of South Florida because of freshwater blue-green algae outbreaks from Lake Okeechobee water discharges.

In Lee County where Fort Myers is located, the red tide outbreak has caused the death of thousands of fish. Just in August, county workers and contractors have pulled more than 2.7 million pounds of dead fish and sea creatures from local beaches.

Dead fish floating through Matanzas and Hurricane Passes, dolphins nearby Dead fish floating in Matanzas Pass and Hurricane Pass off of Fort Myers Beach, dolphins seen nearby.

That's nearly as much stone crab as was collected across the state in 2015, the most recent occurrence of red tide, according to Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Three years ago, the toxic blooms affected both southwest Florida and the Panhandle, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Hundreds of sea turtles, manatees and dolphins and a whale shark have been recovered in Lee County since June.

Contributing: Sheldon Zoldan, (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press. Follow Chad Gillis on Twitter: @ChadGillisNP