For centuries, it has plagued Florida’s Gulf Coast. Now, it has returned to Tampa Bay to afflict everything it touches: the ecosystem, the economy, people’s livelihoods and their health, and especially the waters of the bay itself as it kills hundreds of tons of sea life.⁠ ⁠ This year, scientists say, the Red Tide is almost certainly finding more fuel because of a singular manmade catastrophe: 215 million gallons of polluted water was dumped into the bay this spring from the old Piney Point fertilizer plant in Manatee County. That’s not its only source, though.⁠ ⁠ So what is Red Tide anyway? When will this current outbreak let up?⁠ ⁠ Click the link in our bio for a Q&A with experts.⁠ ⁠⁠ These are a few recent fish kill and cleanup scenes from Fort De Soto Park (photos 1-5) and along St. Pete's bay shores (photos 6-10).⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 📷 : @abaderphoto and @lsantanaphoto / Tampa Bay Times