Red Tide status as of 1.4.23

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

via FWC

 

Current Conditions
The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 67 samples collected from and offshore of Southwest Florida over the past week. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 13 samples: one in Pinellas County, one in Hillsborough County, six in Manatee County, four in Sarasota County, and one offshore of Charlotte County. Additional details are provided below.

  • In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in Pinellas County, medium concentrations in Hillsborough County, background to medium concentrations in Manatee County, background to medium concentrations in Sarasota County, high concentrations offshore of Charlotte County, background concentrations in Lee County, and background concentrations offshore of Collier County.
  • In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
  • Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

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

Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported via the Beach Conditions Reporting System over the past week in Southwest Florida in Pinellas County (Indian Shores), Manatee County (Anna Maria Beach, Anna Maria Island Rod and Reel Pier, Coquina Beach, Holmes Beach, Manatee Beach), and Sarasota County (Caspersen Beach, Lido Key Beach, Longboat Key, Manasota Key Beach, Nokomis Beach, Siesta Key Beach, Turtle Beach, Venice North Jetty Beach). 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/.

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

The next status report will be issued on Friday, January 6th. Please check our daily sampling map, which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together.

This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on the FWRI Red Tide website. The website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Florida Poison Information Center (to report human health effects related to exposure to red tide), and other wildlife related hotlines.