Red Tide Mid-Week Update for February 15, 2023

FWC Current Conditions

Over the past week, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 135 samples from and offshore of Southwest Florida, and one from Northwest Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 58 samples from Southwest Florida: four in Manatee County, 12 in Sarasota County, five in Charlotte County, and 37 in and offshore of Lee County. Additional details are provided below.

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

Fish Kills

Over the past week, reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received in Southwest Florida from Manatee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties, and offshore of Monroe County. For more details, please visit: https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/ and https://visitbeaches.org/.

Respiratory Irritation

Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported via the Beach Conditions Reporting System and/or the Fish Kill Hotline over the past week in Southwest Florida in Manatee County (Anna Maria Island Rod & Reel Pier, Coquina Beach, Longboat Key, Manatee Beach, South Skyway Rest Area) Sarasota County (Humphries Park, Lido Key Beach, Longboat Key, Manasota Key Beach, Nokomis Beach, Siesta Key Beach, Turtle Beach, Venice Beach, Venice North Jetty Beach), Charlotte County (Don Pedro Island Beach, Englewood Beach, Gasparilla Pass, Palm Island Resort Beach, Stump Pass), Lee County (Bowmans Beach, Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia, Pine Island Sound near Useppa Island, Safety Harbor), and Collier County (Cape Romano Island). 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 variable movement of surface waters and net southeastern transport of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days.