Amid a run for the U.S. Senate, Florida Gov. Rick Scott was booed out of a restaurant recently as protesters wanted to know what he planned to do about the state's red tide issue.
Scott was making a campaign stop in Venice, Florida when he was met with protesters outside a Cuban restaurant Monday, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. Scott avoided the protesters by entering the restaurant through the back door only to leave 10 minutes later as members of the crowd shouted "coward." His supporters held up signs as well, and chanted the Republican governor's name.
The protesters were criticizing Scott for cutting funding for environmental agencies, claiming the measures could have minimized the ongoing red tide issue.
Red tide, caused by an outbreak of Karenia brevis, has been plaguing Florida since October. Heavy outbreaks have been reported on the southwest coast of the state and, last week, "patchy" cases of red tide were found off shore of Panama City and Bay County.
Fish kills were reported in multiple locations off of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Walton and Bay counties. There have also been reports of respiratory illnesses related to red tide exposure. Red tide can cause severe health problems for those with COPD, asthma or anyone with lung conditions.