Sunset view from Fisherman's Village, Punta Gorda, FL
I hate to say it, but can you really know if we have oil by listening to the media? The photos that they are showing on TV is sad and makes one think that EVERY place along the Gulf of Mexico was contaminated by oil. This is not true. Please use the links below to see for yourself before you change your vacation plans to Southwest Florida.
Mote Marine Laboratory is conducting beach surveys and updates to the condition or sighting of oil at 33 beach locations. They are using underwater robots to report underwater conditions.
Beach Updates available Here
173 lb Tarpon caught in Charlotte Harbor
Charlotte County
As most of you know there is a terrible oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico and we are saddened to see the effects of this tragedy on that region. Fortunately, our own area is completely unaffected bythe oil spill at this time, and the prevailing winds and currents seem unlikely to bring the oil to our area in the near future. We are open for business, the dolphins are jumping, and the fishing is great. There is never a better time to pay us a visit! Click on the link above for travel updates from Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Lee County
Destination officials on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel are monitoring the situation closely and will respond accordingly to any potential impact on our area. If you are traveling to the destination, you can monitor the following websites for the latest updates on the spill and check back with this site for specific information regarding The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is reporting, “There are currently no impacts to our refuge waters. The beaches are clean and open.”
Special thanks to Smugglers Enterprises Inc. for use of the photo