Kelly Kurtz
A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida
This collection was created during the 2017-2018 red tide event that had major ecosystem impacts on the west coast of Florida. Fish harvesters and related businesses suffered major setbacks during this time. Fishers, with a long history on the water and oftentimes second or third generation involved in the fishing business, reminisce about how the ecosystem has changed during their and their families time and the red tides they have witnessed. The collection provides information on species affected, specific areas affected, as well as discussions related to adaptation behaviors and specific business impacts.
Kelly Kurtz is a Sarasota native who has been chartering for the last ten years. He mostly fishes inshore but he fishes up to nine miles offshore as well. He talks about if there is another red tide he might have to get another job or a bigger boat so that he can work offshore.
Scope and Content Note
Kelly Kurtz discusses how he has been in the area for 10 years and primarily fishes inshore but also ventures offshore occasionally. When discussing red tide, Kelly recalls the first occurrence in 2004, though he wasn't working on the water at the time. In 2018, he experienced a significant red tide event that impacted his fishing. He mentions how the red tide swept into Sarasota Bay in August, causing fishing to cease until Christmas. The bay was filled with dead fish, and the water was discolored and odorous. Kelly discusses the areas affected, including the Yacht Club, Stickney Point, and New Pass. He notes the loss of various fish species, including snook, pompano, trout, redfish, and tarpon. The red tide also affected marine mammals, turtles, and manatees. Kelly expresses disappointment at the decline in fish populations and the challenge of finding productive fishing spots. Despite the red tide, he continued taking fishing trips, and some areas cleared up by Christmas, allowing for limited catches.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.