Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/130753
HANDLING THE FISH KILLS Blind Pass Beach is strewn with fish killed by red tide in December. Photo courtesy Sarasota County A NEW SARASOTA COUNTY POLICY WILL ENABLE STAFF TO OBTAIN PERMISSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS TO CLEAR DEAD FISH AND SEAWEED UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor After dealing with scores of complaints last year — even in December — about dead fish and seaweed accumulating on the county's beaches, the Sarasota County Commission has unanimously approved a new measure to enable staff to pick up dead fish, seaweed and debris from areas previously not covered by county policy. The new initiative will be applied only under special circumstances, according to the action of the County Commission on May 7 during its regular meeting in Venice. "Let's hope we don't have to pull this out too often," Commissioner Christine Robinson said after the board's vote. In a presentation to the commission, Carolyn Brown, director of the Parks and Recreation Let's hope we don't have to pull Department, pointed out, "This past Dethis out too often. cember, we had a significant fish kill event." Christine Robinson Commissioner Many of the deceased Sarasota County creatures "washed