Red algae covers Fort Myers Beach, causing concern for beachgoers

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — As temperatures rise back into the 70s, many are flocking to Fort Myers Beach. However, beachgoers are encountering a surprising sight along the shoreline—a significant amount of red drift algae.

It's red, it's smelly, and it's an eyesore for those visiting the beach.

"It caught us by surprise, but we've been on 5 miles in so far, and it wasn't, didn't seem like it was on the entire beach, but just on this stretch down through here," said Todd Sill, who is visiting from South Carolina. "So we wondered what it was all about."

The red algae has people being cautious about entering the water, with some wondering if it's related to a red tide.

"I just remember years ago hearing about a red tide on the beach on the Gulf where I was, and I wondered if it may be the same thing or not," said Sill. "But I didn't really get an odor, or I wasn't coughing, or anything like that."

Mark Thompson, a research associate at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Marine Laboratory, clarified the situation.

"It's red macro algae, and basically it grows in shallower areas," said Thompson. "The tide kind of pumps it up against the shore. The wind has, when it blows against the shore, it blows it up against the shore, so it gets concentrated along the shoreline."

Thompson explained that while the algae is edible, especially for wildlife, it will start to emit a stronger odor as temperatures continue to rise.

"It will smell, it will smell," said Thompson. "But there is no toxic component to the vapor or whatever that's coming off the algae. So it'll just smell funny."

Thompson said as it sits out in the sun, it decomposes, and as it decomposes, bacteria will begin to grow, creating that strong, funky smell.

"I wouldn't just pick some up and put it in your mouth or anything, because it's going to have a lot of bacteria on it, and it could have the wrong kind," he said.