Stinky Situation: Fort Myers Beach Workers Tackle Dead Fish Dilemma

Red Tide In Florida's Tampa Bay Leaves Dead Fish Along Coastline

(Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

It looks like the town staff members in Fort Myers Beach have a stinky situation on their hands. Literally. Dead fish have started washing up on shore, and it’s up to these brave souls to clean up the mess.

I mean, sure, it’s not the most glamorous job out there. But someone’s gotta do it, right? And let’s be honest, it’s not like anyone’s lining up to volunteer for this task.

But fear not, the town’s Environmental Services Manager is on the case! Apparently, they’ve been working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to receive a permit to use heavier equipment to remove the fish. Because let’s face it, sometimes a good old-fashioned shovel just isn’t enough to get the job done.

And guess what? The approval for this heavy-duty equipment was received on Monday, Feb. 27. Just in time, too, because Lee County is loaning some equipment to the town starting today, February 28, 2023.

Fort Myers Beach:

Now, some of you might be wondering why these fish are dying in the first place. Well, according FOX 4, to the Lee County Health Department says, there are “alert levels” of Red Tide in the Gulf waters around Lynn Hall Memorial Park near Times Square. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s also a ton of debris in the water from Hurricane Ian.

So, not only are these town staff members tasked with cleaning up dead fish, they also have to deal with potentially harmful water conditions. Talk about a thankless job!

But hey, let’s give these folks some credit. They’re out there day in and day out, doing the dirty work so that we can enjoy a clean beach. So, next time you see one of these workers hauling away a load of dead fish, be sure to give them a nod of appreciation. And maybe a can of air freshener, too.

Restaurants Now Open On Fort Myers Beach Following Hurricane Ian

It's been nearly four months since Hurricane Ian rolled through Southwest Florida, devastating Fort Myers Beach.

Though the recovery process is far from complete, some restaurants have opened their doors and eagerly await a packed house.

It gives us a sense of normalcy to be able to dine at some of our Fort Myers Beach favorites. While many restaurants were demolished and won't return, there are some with plans to rebuild and some, as mentioned, open for business. Keep in mind, some restaurants are open but operating with limited menus and resources. Some are even located at a different location.

One in particular is La Ola Surfside Restaurant

The restuarant was destroyed by Hurricane Ian and has been serving food out of a food truck since October. What's next for them? A beach bar made of shipping containers.

The owner, Tom Houghton, told NBC-2, “These doors are going to fold out into a deck to be the first row of tables. It will be a roughly eight-foot deck and then the bar will be about three feet inside. The bar will run around 28-29 feet. Behind the bar will be a center area that has a large ice machine to the back. To the right, there will be a 10 x 8 walk-in cooler.” And get this! If another storm approches, the containers can be packed up and taken off the beach within 48 hours.

Food will still be prepared in the food truck.

The curfew on Fort Myers Beach has been loosened.

So, now is the time to make a trip over the bridge for a long awaited meal or fruity drink at a local hot spot.

What restaurants are open on Fort Myers Beach? The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce continues to update their site. These are the restaurants listed as open as of today.

Let's get out there are support these local businesses. We are #FloridaStrong