How safe is it to eat seafood during red tide in Southwest Florida? What to know

Red tide has returned to Southwest Florida, with dead fish and dead eels washing ashore on beaches.

Heading to the beach no longer sounds too appealing, and the presence of red tide begs the question: How safe is it to eat the seafood?

It is OK to eat local finfish during a red tide, with a catch

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, reports on its website that "yes, it is safe to eat local finfish as long as the fish are filleted before eaten."

"However," FWC cautions, "it is never a good idea to eat dead or distressed animals, especially in a red tide area because the reason for the animal's strange behavior or death cannot be absolutely known."

Can you eat shellfish at a restaurant or buy it from seafood market during red tide?

The FWC website also says store-bought, restaurant-served shellfish is "safe to eat during a bloom because the shellfish are monitored by the government for safety."

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"Commercially available shellfish are often not locally harvested, and, if harvested locally, are tested for red tide toxins before they are sold," the FWC site read.

How far out from shore is it safe to catch seafood from the Gulf

Red tide blooms can extend 20, 30 miles or more from the shoreline into the Gulf, so many commerical fishing businesses will head out much farther to play it safe.

Katie Fischer, owner-operator of Island Seafood in Matlacha, told The News-Press in a 2018 story that their company-owned boats during a red tide that year would fish for grouper and snapper 80 to 100 miles offshore.

After Hurricane Ian last fall, some questioned how safe it was to eat fish and shellfish from the Gulf and waterways.

Chanda Jamieson, a Southwest Florida seafood seller-owner of The Fisherman's Daughter, said fish was safe to eat as long as it was properly prepared and cooked. 

"Fishing families have seen Southwest Florida’s water quality change over time, encountering red tide and algal blooms, as well as the presence of (Vibrio) bacteria," Jamieson told The News-Press for a November story.

"This has been going on for years, and through it all, commercial fishermen and local seafood processors have continued to put time and care into each and every catch, ensuring it is cooled and cooked properly."

Science behind red tide

With the red tide found off Southwest Florida coast in recent weeks, levels from Tampa Bay south to Marco Island range from around 10,000 cells per liter to more than 1 million cells per liter, the FWC said.

Fish kills and breathing issues in humans can start when levels reach 10,000 cells per liter, the wildlife commission has reported. While red tide occurs naturally in Southwest Florida, scientists have said the latest blooms are fed along the coast by excess nutrients running of the landscape.

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter and on Twitter @NDN_dosborn.