When the time is right for you, we look forward to welcoming you back to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. We encourage our visitors and locals to follow the health and safety recommendations and practice social distancing. We will continue to monitor updates related to the COVID-19 virus with local, state and federal agencies.
The City of Sanibel requires the use of face coverings, with certain exceptions. Every person over two should wear a mask when closer than six feet away from another person. Individuals of a business (Owner, worker, patron, etc.) are required to wear a face mask while indoors within that business.
For additional Sanibel Island updates click here.
Fort Myers Beach requires everyone over the age of 6 to have access to a face covering while they are away from their place of residence and to wear a face covering when social distancing is not possible. Additionally, all business operators, employees and customers must wear a face covering while inside the business.
Updated: September 14, 2020
The Lee County beach sites that are currently open include:
Beach Parks:
Beach Accesses:
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Turner Beach Park on Captiva Island will be closed to the public. The shoreline stabilization project construction is scheduled to continue until November 6, 2020. Turner Beach Park will NOT be available for use during this construction project.
It is recommended that on all beaches that are open the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing be followed; this includes separating by six feet and not gathering in large groups. For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
For more information specific to Lee County, visit www.leegov.com/covid-19 or for the locations of county-owned beaches, visit https://www.leegov.com/parks/beaches.
Within Lee County, some beaches are owned and managed by municipalities and the state. We encourage visitors to visit the following websites for other beach updates:
The following beach cams offer real-time views of our beaches, complimentary of our partners.
| Fort Myers Beach |
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina |
| Boca Grande | |
| Sanibel Island | |
| Captiva Island |
What is it?
Red Drift Algae is a species of algae that can be seen with the naked eye and resembles red seaweed. This algae is not harmful and non-toxic. These species, which vary in color and can be red, brown, green or white, occur naturally in the environment and can sometimes detach from the bottom of the sea floor and wash up along area beaches. It can have an unpleasant smell as it dries out on the sand.
Where is it?
It is most notably seen washed up on area beaches in the wrack line. “Wrack” is the term for seaweed, sea grass, driftwood, and other organic materials that wash ashore on the beach. At certain times of the year we may have an abundance of red drift on our beaches while at other times we may have little to none.
Why is it important?
Many of our local and migratory shorebirds feast on invertebrates and small crustaceans in the abundant wrack on our beaches, including the red drift algae. This organic matter is essential to the beach ecosystem. It is for this very reason why our beaches are not regularly groomed.
Florida Healthy Beaches Program (Florida Department of Health)- Map with beach samples & advisory status
Current Beach Conditions (MOTE Marine Laboratory)- Map with beach conditions from select beaches in Southwest Florida
Red Tide Current Sampling Map- Updated bi-weekly by The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commissions (FWC)
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)- A local foundation dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva islands and in the surrounding watershed.
Algal Bloom Sampling Status- Interactive dashboard allows public to see where algal blooms were occurring in Florida. It features real-time updates, photos and information. Users can search by specific address, ZIP code, city or place. The tool includes quick links to other resources such as public health information.
Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS)- This is an experimental forecast of potential respiratory irritation that may occur because of airborne toxins produced by the red tide organism Karenia brevis. It indicates a greater or lesser likelihood of negative conditions based on predicted wind and ocean currents. Please NOTE: This experimental forecast is currently being tested for efficacy and is not yet an official forecast. Daily availability of the product cannot be assured.
Lee County's Water Quality Information
