SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — No-swim advisories have been issued for a handful of Sarasota- area beaches due to the presence of bacteria commonly found in human and animal waste.
The Florida Department of Health on Thursday issued the advisories for beaches on Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Nokomis Beach and North Jetty.
The beaches remained open, but health department officials were discouraging beachgoers from getting in the water.
They also were discouraging people from eating shellfish caught along those beaches.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports the bacteria is being caused by a red tide algae bloom.
The resulting fish kills have become food for shorebirds and other wildlife, which are contributing to the elevated bacteria levels.
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