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Indian River tests positive for red tide as more dead fish are reported

FWC reports high level of red tide at Sebastian Inlet, Long Point Park

MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. – Mass fish kills occurred this month on Brevard County beaches. Now, dead fish are also being reported in the Indian River Lagoon.

Test results released by the FWC showed high levels of red tide in the Indian River at Sebastian Inlet and Long Point Park.

On Monday, a few dead fish were recorded in the Indian River at each location.

[RELATED: How red tide made it to Brevard County | These Florida maps show where red tide, blue-green algae are the worst]

A groundskeeper at Long Point Park said the rest of the dead fish were removed.

"I wake up and smell it every morning," Micco fisherman Trip Freeman said about the dead fish washing up out of the water.

A week later, crews and volunteers with Keep Brevard Beautiful are still removing tens of thousands of dead fish from 15 miles of beaches.

Freeman said the past two weeks, red tide killed a lot of his business, Sand N Sea Beach Rentals.  

"We don't need the river to go though what we've dealt with on the beach. That's for sure," Freeman said.

[Beachgoers beware: Red tide can affect your health]

The county expects fish kills in the lagoon won't be as bad as on the beaches.

"Red tide feeds off salinity and there's a lot more salt in the ocean water than there is in the river water," communications director Don Walker said.


About the Author
James Sparvero headshot

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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