Red tide alert issued for Bowditch Point Park

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County issued a health alert for the presence of a red tide bloom found near Bowditch Point Park Beach on Fort Myers Beach April 17 Red tide was found to be at a medium level from samples taken at the site

The department had reported an alert level of red tide near Lynn Hall Memorial Park on April 17, though the most recent data reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows that readings at Lynn Hall Memorial Park on April 19 were very low The department lifted its red tide alert for Lynn Hall Memorial Park on Friday afternoon but has kept in place the alert for Bowditch Point Park

The Florida Department of Health didn’t immediately respond to questions Friday as to whether additional readings had been taken at Bowditch Point Park since April 17

The Florida Department of Health also announced that cautionary levels of red tide were found near Bowman’s Beach (Sanibel), Gasparilla Island State Park (Boca Grande), Bonita Beach Dog Park (Bonita Springs), Turner Beach (Captiva), and Blind Pass Beach (Sanibel). A cautionary notice indicates low levels (>10,000-100,000 Karenia brevis cells per liter) of red tide detected in sampling This is in response to water samples taken April 13 and April 17

The Florida Department of Heath advises residents and visitors to take the following precautions regarding red tide:

∫ Look for informational signage posted at most beaches

∫ Stay away from the water, and do not swim in waters with dead fish

∫ Those with chronic respiratory problems should be especially cautious and stay away from this location as red tide can affect your breathing

∫ Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish or distressed or dead fish from this location If caught live and healthy, finfish are safe to eat as long as they are filleted and the guts are discarded Rinse fillets with tap or bottled water

∫ Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you have had recent contact with red tide

∫ Keep pets and livestock away and out of the water, sea foam and dead sea life If your pet swims in waters with red tide, wash it as soon as possible.

∫ Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner, making sure that the A/C filter is maintained according to manufacturer's specifications

∫ If outdoors near an affected location, residents may choose to wear masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing

Other information on red tide from the Florida Department of Health:

What is red tide?

Red tide is one type of harmful algal bloom caused by high concentrations of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (K brevis), a type of microscopic algae found in the Gulf of Mexico Red tide typically forms naturally offshore, commonly in late summer or early fall, and is carried into coastal waters by winds and currents Once inshore, these opportunistic organisms can use nearshore nutrient sources to fuel their growth Blooms typically last into winter or spring, but in some cases, can endure for more than one year

Is it harmful?

Brevis produces potent neurotoxins (brevetoxins) that can be harmful to the health of both wildlife and people Wind and wave action can break open K brevis cells and release toxins into the air This is why you should monitor conditions and use caution when visiting affected water bodies People in coastal areas can experience varying degrees of eye, nose and throat irritation during a red tide bloom. Some individuals with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic lung disease might experience more severe symptoms Red tide toxins can also affect the central nervous system of fish and other marine life, which can lead to fish kills and increased wildlife strandings or mortalities

Eating contaminated seafood can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning in humans Symptoms include nausea and vomiting; tingling of the mouth, lips and tongue; and slurred speech and dizziness

Find current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal blooms and beach conditions by visiting ProtectingFloridaTogether gov and floridahealth gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins Protecting Florida

Together is the state’s joint effort to provide statewide water quality information to prioritize environmental transparency and commitment to action For local shellfish harvesting status, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Where can I report issues related to red tide?

T h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e C o n s e r v a t i o n Commission collects and analyzes red tide samples and r e s u l t s a r e u p d a t e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s d a i l y (MyFWC com/redtidemap); status updates are issued twice weekly during blooms (Red Tide Current Status).

To hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state, call the toll-free hotline at 866-300-9399

To report fish kills, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute via the FWC Reporter App, c a l l 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 3 6 - 0 5 1 1 , o r r e p o r t o n l i n e a t https://myfwc com/research/saltwater/health/fish-killshotline/

Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center Call 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately

Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with red tide-affected water or contaminated marine life

For health questions or concerns about red tide blooms, please call the Department of Health-Lee County at 239-690-2100

Last year, there were 109 loggerhead sea turtle nests documented on Fort Myers Beach, Haverfield said. That was up from 87 nests in 2021 though down from a record of 132 nests in 2020 during the covid pandemic Part of the reason for the difference in numbers each year is that female sea turtles typically lay eggs every other year

Each nesting sea turtle can return to the beach to nest up to three times in a season, according to the National Oceanic and A t m o s p h e r i c A d m i n i s t r a t i o n E a c h o f those nests can contain up to 100 eggs

Protected nationally since 1978 by the Endangered Species Act, loggerhead sea turtles were once much rarer on Fort Myers Beach When Turtle Time first starting documenting nests in 1996, there were only 30 recorded

Of the 109 nests recorded on Fort Myers Beach last year, 11 of those nests had hatchlings which disoriented due to lighting violations on Fort Myers Beach

Hatchlings from two nests on Big Hickory Island were also disorientated by lights f r o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h , H a v e r f i e l d said Haverfield said 16 nests didn’t hatch due to storms which washed out the nests

Lighting violations

Still An Issue

Haverfield said light violations continue to be an issue on Fort Myers Beach

Between May 1 and July 31 of last year, the town issued 220 warnings for lighting violations Of those violations, the town issued 44 citations with a total of $19,050 in fines The town charges $250 for the first citation and $500 for additional violations for the same property

Loggerhead sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act, Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act, and The T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Sea Turtle Conservation Code The Town c o n s i d e r s d i s o r i e n t a t i o n s o f s e a t u r t l e h a t c h l i n g s f r o m m a n - m a d e lights as an irreparable and irreversible violation with a fine of up to $5,000 Further direct disturbances of sea turtles and their nestings could result in federal or state prosecution

“Lighting compliance is not in place yet, far from it,” Haverfield said

“We encourage people to use Amber LEDs, remove all furniture from the beach, keep dogs on a leash, do not dist u r b n e s t s , n o f l a s h p h o t o g r a p h y , ” Haverfield said If one encounters a sea turtle or hatchlings on the beach, they should stay clear as to not interfere with their nesting or hatchling process The hatchlings, once they break out of their eggs and through the sand out of their nests, will head for the Gulf of Mexico as long as they aren’t disorientated by any light or other human activity

Loss of buildings, vegetation could impact tur tles

“This year will be a challenge because of the missing buildings and vegetation that once blocked light from reaching the beach,” Haverfield said “All the more reason for the Town to pursue getting amber LEDs put in place Amber LED light is bright, but it has a wavelength that is long which sea turtles and other nocturnal species, including migratory birds, don’t react to Right now, there are multiple major violations that will need to be ameliorated by May 1 ”

Haverfield is concerned that the loss of vegetation on the beach due to Hurricane Ian could lead sea turtles “to wander furt h e r i n l a n d , p o s s i b l y o n t o E s t e r o B o u l e v a r d T h e d e p u t i e s f r o m t h e Sheriff’s Office will help us in the event of a disoriented turtle on the street,” she said “Where the newly constructed berm is in place, sea turtles are less likely to reach Estero Boulevard ”

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is reminding all property owners to be “conscientious about the lighting they are installing,” Chustz said “It is also just as important to draw your curtains close at night. When it comes to windows and glass slider doors, FWC sea turtle biologists have advised that “turtle glass” with 45% light transmittance may not be sufficient to adequately reduce light visibility to nesting and hatchling sea turtles And if you are installing new windows, choose a NFRC light transmittance specification of 30% or less ”

The Sea Turtle Conservancy recommends Frontier Lighting & Synergy

Lighting for lighting fixtures that protect sea turtles, Chustz said. “It’s important to verify that the spectrum specifications of the bulb indicate 560 nm or greater One of the cheapest FWC certified wildlife lighting options that staff has found available online is the “FEIT A19 Red Bulb” that screws into classic Edison fixtures Please note, filter wraps, gels, and colored ‘party bulbs’ are not compliant, because the emit light that sea turtles are sensitive to ”

Chustz will patrol the beach at night to monitor light pollution on sea turtle nesting habitat. “Efforts will focus on identifying problematic lights and educating property owners on solutions Property owners are encouraged to be proactive Take a walk on the beach to see if your property’s lighting is visible from the

EVE

beach, and install wildlife friendly lighting now, rather than waiting for warning letters and enforcement citations,” Chustz advised residents

Last year, Turtle Time reported that some sea turtle hatchlings were found under condos and houses because the property’s lights disoriented them Some were rescued by Turtle Time but it is believed many likely perished due to predators, exhaustion, and dehydration

“Hatchlings are disorientated by both interior and exterior lights,” Haverfield said “This is preventable,” she said “This doesn't need to happen ”

Turtle Time has had to deal with a higher number of sea turtle deaths this year than normal, some of which are from boats, others which could be due to several red tide waves and impacts to the water from Hurricane Ian.

“We’ve documented 14 dead turtles, seven of them on Fort Myers Beach,” Haverfield said “Some boat strikes, others, no definitive cause of death ”

While there have not yet been any sea turtle nests spotted on Fort Myers Beach, Haverfield said sea turtles have hit the beaches in Captiva and Bonita Beach

Over the weekend, a female sea turtle visited Bonita Beach “checking out the n e s t i n g s i t e s , ” H a v e r f i e l d s a i d “ S h e encountered Hurricane Ian debris that still remains on the beach in nesting habitat at her first attempt to nest At the second try, she was not pleased with the presence of a palm tree ” Haverfield expects that turtle to return soon to find “just the right spot s o m e w h e r e , h o p e f u l l y o n o n e o f t h e beaches that we monitor ” Haverfield said she is concerned about the sea turtles encountering dangerous objects on the beaches left over from Hurricane Ian

Though there hasn’t been a nesting yet on Fort Myers Beach, Haverfield said the false crawls on Bonita Beach (as it is known when a sea turtle emerges on the beach but doesn’t lay eggs) over the weekend “were exciting to see ”

Arches Bayfront

m u c h o f t h e d e t a i l s a t www Archesbayfront com with a survey on the site for the public to comment

More than 120 people have already t a k e n t h e s u r v e y a n d c o m m e n t e d , Freeland said He welcomes questions about traffic and the size of the hotels “We welcome the feedback The good, the bad and the ugly,” Freeland said.

He is seeking comments from the public, with plans to hold a meeting at Pink Shell Beach Resort on May 15 for the public to weigh in further on the redevelopment The plans will likely be adjusted before and after that meeting ahead of F r e e l a n d ’ s i n t e n t t o s u b m i t p e r m i t requests to the town in June

Moss Marina incurred significant damage from Hurricane Ian, with four of the six buildings on site wiped out and demolished. Two other buildings which survived would be replaced under the current plans

Moss Marina would continue to operate approximately 55 wet slips while abandoning their dry storage barns

Under the redevelopment plans, the four-acre bayfront property overseeing Matanzas Pass and the bay would open up access to pedestrians and bicyclists along a 1,000-feet linear park overlooking the bay down to Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Bayside Park and Nervous Nellie’s There would be a step-up pavili o n w i t h “ w a t e r a c c e s s t o f a m i l i e s , ” Freeland said. He envisions spots along the baywalk being opened up to vendors He is also exploring options for restaurants and shops

Water ferries, waterboats, kayaks and charter boats would also be welcome at the marina Freeland wants to put a focus on water ferries, or water taxis, in order to facilitate more efficient travel on and off the island Freeland said he has spoken with other businesses and marinas about coordinating ferry service

“It is a more fun and efficient way to travel on the island in peak season,” Freeland said “We see that as a big part of it actually, so people can get on the water and experience it in a personal way ”

The hotels would be approximately four-to-five stories high They would need to be built 13-16 feet above ground level to meet hurricane code

Freeland said he is cognizant about building the hotels in a way that wouldn’t interfere with the sightlines of neighbors, while stating that the hurricane requires developers to build up higher off the ground He thinks the view will actually improve.

“It will really open up the view instead of just a big boat barn,” he said

So far, Freeland said the feedback through the surveys online has “been great There is a lot of positive feedback ” Freeland said he plans to address concerns about traffic and wants more details from the public as to any concerns about the size of the project

“ W e e n c o u r a g e m o r e d i a l o g u e , ”

Freeland said “We are listening all the way ”

He believes there will be enough parking on site, with much of the parking being situated on the bottom levels of the hotels

The famed Fort Myers Beach arches that welcomed visitors onto the island before being demolished in 1979 for the Matanzas Pass Bridge, will be a central part of the theme at the reconstructed bayfront Freeland said he is in talks with Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches about how to incorporate the arches theme at the property

“We are trying to make sure we are respectful of the residents and neighbors,” Freeland said “This is a destination-type of development ”

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