Decaying algae is coming to the surface in the backyards of some Southwest Florida residents; now it’s leading to small dead fish, and neighbors want action to be taken.

Rick Salkeld sees algae in his canal near the Matlacha Park Fishing Pier. “It’s not a happy time,” he said.

Salkeld is not happy about having to rake the algae in his canal.

Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani wants to know if this particular algae is toxic. Earlier this year, the same species of algae was tested and came back positive for a paralytic shellfish toxin.

“The root is primarily nutrient pollution or over-enrichment of nitrogen, phosphorus, and we just have too much of that in our waterways, comes from stormwater runoff, sewage spills, leaky sewage pipes, septic tanks, those types of things,” Cassani said.