Thousands of fish, plus turtles and crabs dying due to red tide in the Gulf off Florida coast in America

Florida wildlife officials say a large offshore fish kill in the northeast Gulf of Mexico is being caused by a red tide.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says citizens have reported thousands of dead or dying reef fish like grouper, hogfish and snapper as well as sea turtles and crabs.

Using satellite images, FWC found an 80-mile long, 50-mile-wide surface bloom of red tide offshore of Dixie and Pasco counties.

FWC scientists collected samples of fish, water and looked at water quality data and confirmed that the red tide organism Karenia brevis is to blame.

FWC says the organism is naturally occurring and has been documented in the Gulf for hundreds of years.