Red tide could be cause of hammerhead shark death

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- A hammerhead shark washed up dead at Lovers Key State Park beach. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say it could be the result of red tide.

The FWC told WINK News that they are aware red ride affected fish and sharks on other beaches across Southwest Florida, but they have not confirmed whether or not it’s what is causing fish to turn up dead at Lovers Key. Beachgoers spotted the 4 foot hammerhead shark that washed up on the beach this morning. One woman told WINK News that it’s not the only one that’s turned up dead.

“This is the third hammerhead shark that we found on the beach this year,” said Vickie Soberg. “We never found that before and we’ve been coming here for five years.”

No one WINK News spoke with felt the respiratory affects of red tide, but most found it unusual that fish were washing up on the beach.