Red Tide Suspected in Manatee Deaths

State officials suspect red tide may have killed some of the 26 manatees found dead in the Fort Myers area over the past two weeks. Red tide is caused by a bloom of the alga Karenia brevis, which contains a powerful toxin that can kill fish and other marine life. When manatees come up for air, they inhale the toxin at the water's surface. They also eat seagrasses that can absorb the toxin. Forty manatees have died in the Lee County area since the beginning of 2006. Last year, 417 manatee deaths were recorded statewide, the worst year on record.