As red tide devastates Southwest Florida’s coast, turning vibrant shorelines into graveyards for marine life, Gainesville residents are feeling the impact through higher seafood prices and supply shortages at local restaurants and markets.

Several areas along the coast, including Sanibel and Sarasota, are still reporting high levels of the toxin, causing fish kills and respiratory irritation for beachgoers. Environmentalists have urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency due to the lasting ecological and economic damage.

At Northwest Seafood, a well-known Gainesville market, owner Lee Deaderick explained how red tide has forced them to seek alternatives to local seafood, increasing their costs and passing them onto customers.

“When red tide is present, it’s harder to source local seafood,” Deaderick said. “We have to look for alternatives and that drives prices up.”

Maintaining quality under these circumstances also requires tough choices.

“If we can’t get it fresh, we just won’t carry it,” Deaderick added. “We’d rather not sell it than compromise on quality.”

Seafood markets and restaurants in Gainesville rely heavily on fresh fish and shellfish from the Gulf Coast, but the red tide crisis has made sourcing those products significantly more difficult and expensive.

Mike Allen, a fisheries scientist at the University of Florida and director of the Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key, explained that while red tide is a natural phenomenon, human factors are exacerbating the problem.

“Red tide is a natural occurrence,” said Allen, who has worked at UF for 25 years. “It's a type of phytoplankton in the dinoflagellate group, and when it blooms, it releases a toxin that can harm marine life and cause respiratory problems for people. While it's been happening for eons, human impacts like agricultural runoff can intensify the bloom.”

Allen also noted the role social media plays in amplifying the issue, particularly for tourism.

“If people see a picture of a dead fish on the beach, they might cancel their trips,” Allen said. “Even if the red tide would’ve cleared up by the time they arrived, hurting the economy.”

As the toxic algae spreads and intensifies in coastal waters, it also creates a ripple effect on local economies far beyond Southwest Florida. For Gainesville residents, the most immediate impact is felt through seafood prices, product shortages and disruptions to the food supply chain.

For restaurants, the challenge goes beyond just finding fresh products. Craig Lemieux, CEO of Rock N Roll Sushi, emphasized the need for flexibility.

“You have to be adaptable,” Lemieux said. “We stay in front of it by always having multiple sources. It allows us to not be dictated by the marketplace as much.”

Recent reports indicate that seafood wholesalers are still struggling with shortages, and in some cases, businesses have had to turn to imported seafood or frozen alternatives to meet demand.

Allen noted that the impact of red tide isn’t just about the current event — it’s part of a broader environmental issue that will require long-term solutions.

“The public needs to understand that red tide isn’t just a fleeting problem. It’s part of a much bigger issue with how we manage our land and water resources,” Allen said. “The more we can do to reduce nutrient pollution and protect coastal ecosystems, the better off we’ll all be.”