What is red drift algae?
There are many different types of red drift algae, which is primarily found on beaches. The one most recently washing up on Lee county beaches, Ceramium, is a feathery, seaweed-type red algae or plant-like organism that breaks off rocks and other hard-bottom structures in the Gulf and washes ashore. In the surf, it begins to decompose, becomes surrounded by bacteria and turns the nearshore area a muddy brown.
