MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County fishermen are worried about this year’s supply of fish.
Cortez fisherman John Banyas estimates the county’s entire mullet population has been wiped out by red tide.
“Everything close to here is pretty much dead and gone,” said Banyas.
He said fisherman are having to travel further to find fish. The prices of certain fish could soon go up.
“It’s killing our stock for the upcoming season,” said Banyas.
Banyas and other area fishermen asked county commissioners to support their effort to petition FWC to lift certain fishing regulations. The fishermen want the ability to use bigger nets to catch mullet before they entire the red tide. They are requesting a temporary permit.
"I’m trying to catch the fish before he dies to utilize it for the processing plant, to keep our employees busy and keep the fish going to the market and then not have it float up in someone's backyard or a canal,” said Banyas.
FWC leaders have received the request, but have not responded to our request for comment.
