
Thousands of dead fish have washed up on a popular Florida beach as a toxic algae bloom plagues the Gulf Coast, killing tourism and wildlife.

Alarming photos show the foul-smelling corpses littering the sand at Fort Myers beach and hundreds more washed up next to a jetty in Placida, around 50 miles north.

The algae bloom known as Red Tide has spread throughout the Gulf of Mexico, drifting through the water since in October.

Alarming photos show the foul-smelling corpses littering the sand at Fort Myers beach and hundreds more washed up next to a jetty (pictured) in Placida - around 50 miles north

Thousands of dead fish have washed up on a popular Florida beach as a toxic algae bloom plagues the Gulf Coast, killing tourism and wildlife

Stretching about 150 miles, it's affecting communities from Naples in the south to Anna Maria Island in the north and appears to be moving northward. Pictured: Fort Myers beach

The algae turns the water toxic for marine life, and in recent weeks beachgoers have been horrified to find turtles, large fish like goliath grouper and even manatees wash up dead. Pictured: Fort Myers beach

In places like Longboat Key, more than five tons of dead fish have been removed from beaches. Pictured: Fort Myers beach

Red tide is a natural occurrence that happens due to the presence of nutrients in the water and an organism called a dinoflagellate

'I've never seen it this bad,' said 31-year-old Heather Lamb of Venice. 'I feel like it cleanses your soul to go to the beach. For me to not be able to go, it's painful.

Stretching about 150 miles, it's affecting communities from Naples in the south to Anna Maria Island in the north and appears to be moving northward.

The algae turns the water toxic for marine life, and in recent weeks beachgoers have been horrified to find turtles, large fish like goliath grouper and even manatees wash up dead.

In late July, a 26-foot long whale shark washed ashore on Sanibel Island, which is known for its pristine beaches.

Dead fish are shown near a boat ramp in Bradenton Beach, Florida. About 135 miles north, beach communities along the Gulf coast have been plagued with red tide

The Governor of Florida issued a state of emergency in response to this year’s excessive red tide, the toxic algae bloom spreading across the West Coast of the Sunshine State and leaving beaches covered with piles of dead marine wildlife

Corpses of sea turtles, manatees, dolphins and fish perished on Florida's coast as a result of the blooming of algae which is worsened by sewerage and fertilizer pollution from super farms

A view of Coquina Beach, Florida with Red Tide algae bloom. A $4.7 million federal grant will allow scientists to study nutrient runoff from farms, coastal development and factories as a possible cause of southwest Florida's persistent red tide problem

In places like Longboat Key, more than five tons of dead fish have been removed from beaches. This week, nine dead dolphins were found in Sarasota County, and marine biologists are investigating whether the deaths are related to red tide.

The Florida Wildlife Research Institute says the number of dead and stranded sea turtles is nearly three times higher than average.

More than 450 stranded and dead sea turtles have been recovered in four affected counties this year, and the institute estimates that 250 to 300 died from red tide poisoning.

In Bradenton Beach, the stench was impossible to ignore.

'I can't describe the smell. It's like unbelievable. It makes you throw up,' said Holmes Beach resident Alex Kuizon, who has lived in the area for decades. He held a handkerchief over his mouth and nose while talking to a reporter. Just a few feet away, hundreds of dead fish clogged a boat ramp.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in seven counties along Florida's Gulf that have been overrun by the pungent bloom.

The areas experiencing low, medium and high red tide in Florida are seen above in this color-coded map

Alex Kuizon covers his face as he stands near dead fish at a boat ramp. Normally crystal clear water is murky, and the smell of dead fish permeates the air

Thousands of fish perished in the ocean because of the algal bloom which has worsened because of human activities such as farming, development and manufacturing

'As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of red tide, we will continue taking an aggressive approach by using all available resources to help our local communities,' Scott, a Republican, said in a statement. 'I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts.'

He also ordered $1.5 million to be spent on various clean-up efforts and to help business impacted by dwindling tourists.

Red tide is a natural occurrence that happens due to the presence of nutrients in the water and an organism called a dinoflagellate.

'Off the west coast of Florida, we have persistent red tide events that occur with some frequency,' said Steve Murawski, a marine science professor at the University of South Florida.

Another algae problem plagues Florida's waterways, Murawski said, and confused and frustrated people are conflating the two. Blue-green algae affect freshwater, and Murawski said it has a direct correlation to agricultural and urban runoff.

The map above shows the shore being plagued by the red tide algae in Florida. More than 450 stranded and dead sea turtles have been recovered in four affected counties this year

Work crews clean up dead fish on Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. The Sunshine State's southwest coast has been ravaged by an unrelenting Red Tide

Heavy May rains caused Lake Okeechobee to discharge water containing blue-green algae into rivers and canals. The bright green sludge oozed onto docks, dams and rivers.

'Are they in fact related? That's kind of an open scientific question,' Murawski said. 'If you've got large nitrogen discharges, you could actually be fueling both the harmful algal bloom and the discharge of the blue-green algae. It's an area of very active concern.'

Why this year's red tide is so intense is up for debate. Some researchers have noticed aggressive blooms after hurricanes; Irma swept past Florida's Gulf Coast in the summer of 2017 and a period of red tide affected Florida after the powerful 2004-2005 hurricanes.

The algae turns the water toxic for marine life, and in recent weeks beachgoers have discovered turtles, large fish, and even manatees washed up dead

A dead Snook is shown in Bradenton Beach. Thousands of dead fish have clogged waterways. while manatees, sea turtles and even a whale shark have washed ashore

Regardless, those who live, work and play in the area are disturbed.

'We get a lot of Europeans this time of year and even people from the Midwest are still coming down because school hasn't started yet. They come here and they're like, 'Oh my goodness, what's this smell? It's awful,'' said Anthony Cucci, the manager of the Mar Vista restaurant on Longboat Key. As he spoke, a worker cleared away dead fish littering the small beach near the patio.

For Charlotte County resident Magdalena Rossip, Saturday was her birthday, when she usually goes to the beach to celebrate. This year, she didn't.

It was too depressing - her family's pressure washing business has dried up because no one wants to use their boat or patio.

'It's catastrophic,' the 35-year-old said.

Crews clean up dead fish along Coquina Beach. Governor Rik Scott said he's ordering $100,000 for additional scientists to help with clean-up efforts and another $500,000 to help local communities and businesses struggling with lost income as tourists flee

Although this isn't peak tourist season for the Gulf Coast - that's in winter - red tide is affecting tourism.

'I'm pretty surprised, because I usually meet my family down here once a year and it's usually completely different. The water's usually much clearer than it has been today,' said Brandon Mullis of Tampa, building a sandcastle with his daughter on Bradenton Beach.

The smell wasn't bad on that part of the beach, but he said he wasn't planning to stay long - and would choose his resort pool over swimming in the Gulf.