FWC: Red tide bloom detected in Manatee, Sarasota counties

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

FWC Current Conditions

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Over the past week, K. brevis was observed in 133 samples. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 82 samples: one in Manatee County, 34 in and offshore of Sarasota County, two in Charlotte County, 38 in and offshore of Lee County, and seven in Collier County. Additional details are provided below.

  • In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Pinellas County, very low to medium concentrations in Manatee County, very low to high concentrations in and offshore of Sarasota County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Lee County, and background to high concentrations in Collier County.
  • In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Santa Rosa County, and background to very low concentrations in two samples from Bay County.
  • Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Fish Kills

Reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received over the past week in Southwest Florida in Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. For more details, please visit: https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/.

Respiratory Irritation

Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. Reports of respiratory irritation from these counties were also received through the Fish Kill Hotline. For recent and current information at individual beaches, please visit https://visitbeaches.org/ and for forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit https://habforecast.gcoos.org/.

Forecast

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict southwestern transport of surface waters and southeastern movement of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days.