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“The worst thing you’ve ever experienced.” That’s how Mary Radabaugh, the manager at Central Marine Stuart describes the algae. After going out there, I can vouch for that as well. We decided to do a masked interview because it was so bad.
“It has definitely gotten worse,” she said. “As soon as you get out of the car, it hits you pretty hard. It is unbearable.”
It’s blue, green, and black and looks like sludge. It may also look still, but if you take a closer look it’s slowly sloshing back and forth. Radabaugh is concerned about her health after smelling this for weeks now. Martin County officials said it could be a week and a half before the air quality tests come back.
Here’s how she described it: “Like a porta-let that had been filled with poo for a month that you got to lock yourself inside. That’s about the smell we are having today.”
It almost looks like these boats are on solid ground, but marine workers say this green slime is about 4 to 6 inches thick. It’s also absolutely covered with flies.
“It’s pretty solid and then when you break it, it has a whole other level of stench that comes out,” said Radabaugh.
Boat workers told us they also think it’s getting worse each day.
“You gotta go home sometimes it’s just unbearable,” said Cale Girard.
Radabaugh said she’s almost at the point of deciding to shut it down. County officials said it will be the next spot to be cleaned but it’s unclear when or how.
“You come out here, and as you know, after you’re here about five minutes, everything about you… your hair, your clothes, smells just like this,” she said.
I, personally, would add this is probably the worst thing I’ve ever smelled.