Brevard businesses, officials keep close eye red tide

MELBOURNE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Beneath a stunning sunset sky, there are signs of darkness. Dead fish now line the beach in Melbourne, where red tide has been confirmed. 

“We noticed a couple of them until we put the blanket down and we walked up and we happened to notice they’re all along. There’s a lot of dead fish on the beach,” said Danielle Langlois, of West Melbourne.

Danielle Langlois came to Canova Beach Park for some R&R. Instead she’s leaving with a little S.O.S.

“My nose and sinuses are burning and I have a slight cough.” 

County test results found red tide in parts of Cocoa Beach, Indialantic Beach, Satellite Beach and Melbourne. Experts say the algae blooms that cause red tide are kept alive by warm water temperatures and people polluting the water with the nitrogen and phosphorus found in waste water and storm water. 

“If we keep feeding this red tide and it keeps traveling up the gulf stream and the water continues to be warm, it could go all the way up to Jacksonville,” said Marine Resources Council Executive Director Leesa Souto. 

Officials hope that doesn’t happen. Danielle Langlois is also crossing her fingers so the next time she wants to catch a sunset in the sky, she doesn’t have to worry about what’s washing up in the water. 

“it’s sad. it’s very sad. I mean evidently for health and sea creatures and fish. It’s sad. they need to try and do something about it.”

Volusia County Beach Safety says they’ve seen no signs of red tide that far north but are monitoring it closely.