This past weekend, Manatee County has expanded its red tide cleanup, becoming one of Florida's first Gulf Coast counties to extend efforts to smaller canals and waterways where fish have begun to foul local waters. Over the weekend, the County and its contractor surveyed local waterways to evaluate the areas needing cleanup and to form an action plan. The vendor will begin cleaning the most affected areas today. Manatee County Parks and Property Maintenance crews have cleaned public beaches and parks in Anna Maria since the first signs of red tide. To date 151 tons of red tide-related waste has been removed from public beaches and parks. As of this weekend, a red tide hotline will be staffed from 8am to 5pm, seven days a week, as conditions persist. Residents can call with questions about red tide and the cleanup operations. The red tide hotline number is (941) 749-3547. More details will be available during a red tide update to Commissioners on Tuesday.

Manatee County Government