A muddy-appearing algae bloom is fouling the back bays and passes around Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island.
Known as rust tide, it can produce toxins and has caused fish kills elsewhere, says Florida Gulf Coast University marine science Professor Mike Parsons, a founding member of the state’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force.
Unlike its famous cousin, it’s not known to cause the respiratory irritation and human health woes associated with red tide, but its potential risks to marine life bear watching, Parsons says. “We should keep a wary eye on it to see if wildlife are affected,” said Parsons, who directs the university’s Vester Field Station…