AND IS THAT SOMETHING RED IS WASHING UP ON SANIBEL AND FORT MYERS BEACH AND THEY LOOK LIKE SEAWEED. BUT THIS STRINGY REDS STAFF, IT’S ALGAE. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER NAILA GRAND PIERRE LOOKS INTO WHY SO MUCH IS SUDDENLY HERE. TAKE A WALK WITH ME FOR A GLIMPSE THAT ALL THIS STUFF WASHING UP ON OUR SHORES. EXPERTS SAY THIS IS RED DRIFT ALGAE NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH RED TIDE. >> THIS IS COMPLETELY HARMLESS AND A HEALTHY PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM. BUT IT STINKS AS A GREAT STEP. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT ON A BEACH DAY. HONESTLY, WHEN I SEE THE CHATTER, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR VACATIONERS THAT COM. >> IS THEY’RE EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, WHITE, BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHARING PHOTOS OF THE ALGAE THAT’S BEEN WASHING UP ON THE SHORES OF SANIBEL AND FORT MYERS BEACH. TAKE A LOOK. THIS IS HOW MUCH WASHED UP THIS MORNING ON FORT MYERS BEACH. IT’S AN INCONVENIENCE. THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. EXPERTS SAY THE RED DRIFT ALGAE IS HARMLESS AND WASHES AWAY ON ITS OWN BUT WAS LEVELS REACHING CONCERNING HEIGHTS. FORT MYERS BEACH SAYS CREWS MAY END UP BREAKING IT UP INSTEAD. >> WE WENT AND LOOKED AT IT THIS AFTERNOON AND IT DOES NEED TO BE ABOUT A FOOT IN DEPTH 1000 LINEAR FEET AND LENGTH. AND SO WE ARE GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THAT MEASUREMENT. BOTH SANIBEL AND FORT MYERS BEACH SAY ONE OF THE POSSIBLE REASONS WHY YOU MAY BE SEEING MORE ALGAE ALONG THE SHORES IS A FACT THAT THIS PAST HURRICANE SEASON. >> WE DIDN’T HAVE A MAJOR STORM. WE DIDN’T HAVE HURRICANES. WE DIDN’T HAVE THAT TURBULENCE OUT THERE. THAT WOULD BREAK IT APART AND KNOCK IT DOWN WAS HERE. EXPERTS SAY IT CAN BE A FOOD SOURCE FOR MARINE LIFE AND SHOREBIRDS AND SOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE TO YEAH, I DID FIND SOME TREASURES. >> AND A LOT OF TIMES THE SEAHORSES FIGHT INSIDE THE THE CD OR THE ALGAE. WHATEVER

Red drift algae has been washing up along Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Experts clarify that it’s completely harmless and a healthy part of the ecosystem.The algae washes away on its own, but people have been sharing photos of the heaps of it on social media. Fort Myers Beach says if levels reach a certain level, it may begin taking steps to get it raked up. “We went and looked at it this afternoon, and it does need to be about a foot in depth and a thousand linear feet in length. So, we are getting dangerously close to that measurement,” said Abigail Eberhart, the Town of Fort Myers Beach public information officer. Both Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach say one possible reason there’s more algae than usual on the beaches is the fact that there wasn’t a major storm this past hurricane season.”We didn’t have hurricanes. We didn’t have that turbulence out there that would break it apart and knock it down,” explained Eric Jackson, the City of Sanibel public information officer.While it’s here, experts say it can be a food source for marine life and shorebirds.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

Red drift algae has been washing up along Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Experts clarify that it’s completely harmless and a healthy part of the ecosystem.

The algae washes away on its own, but people have been sharing photos of the heaps of it on social media. Fort Myers Beach says if levels reach a certain level, it may begin taking steps to get it raked up.

“We went and looked at it this afternoon, and it does need to be about a foot in depth and a thousand linear feet in length. So, we are getting dangerously close to that measurement,” said Abigail Eberhart, the Town of Fort Myers Beach public information officer.

Both Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach say one possible reason there’s more algae than usual on the beaches is the fact that there wasn’t a major storm this past hurricane season.

“We didn’t have hurricanes. We didn’t have that turbulence out there that would break it apart and knock it down,” explained Eric Jackson, the City of Sanibel public information officer.

While it’s here, experts say it can be a food source for marine life and shorebirds.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.