In the past few weeks, Manatee County has cleaned up 241 tons of dead fish. Now they’re asking neighbors and volunteers to help in the effort.

The county is providing hundreds of nets and buckets so together, these neighborhoods can reclaim their waterways.

Dead fish have been a constant annoying and tragic way of life for Manatee County over the past few weeks.

But officials have made a lot of headway. Contractors and county staff have cleaned up more than 241 tons of nasty, smelling debris.

That partnership has now ended, and in its place, county officials are providing hundreds of nets and buckets for the public to use. They will be offered near 15 red tide designated dumpsters throughout the county.

“We will be providing nets to folks in theory that you and your neighbors can start assisting by picking up the residual fish that are in the channels,” said county administrator Ed Hunzeker.

Officials are optimistic that conditions are improving.

“We’ve had a nice strong east breeze keeping things off the shoreline, we can only hope that it stays that way for the foreseeable future until the red tide goes away,” said Hunzeker.

And in the meantime, they hope the community will work together to help bring this county back on its feet.

“We believe that should be helpful for the foreseeable future, remember this is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Hunzeker.

Roll off dumpsters are available at the following locations:

  • Anna Maria Bayfront Park
  • Bayshore Gardens (Big Fish parking lot)
  • Bowlees Creek (Sara Bay Marina parking lot)
  • Coquina Bayside North Boat Ramp
  • Coquina Bayside South Boat Ramp
  • Coquina Gulfside South (off 1300 Gulf Dr Parking lot)
  • Coral Shores (Coral Blvd near Kingston Rd)
  • Kingfish Boat Ramp
  • Longboat Key Boat Ramp
  • Manatee Beach
  • Palma Sola Causeway Park
  • Trailer Estates (on Park Lane)
  • Warner’s Bayou Ramp
  • Wild Oak Bay Community (one on either end of Wild Oak Bay Blvd) 

Private homeowners can either haul dead fish to the dumpsters or contract with local fishermen willing to do the work. There is no fee to dump fish in these dumpsters.

For more information, click here.