Blooms of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, are in, along and offshore of Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Charlotte and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, and Gulf counties in Northwest Florida.
In a Nov. 4 report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported K. brevis detected in background to low concentrations in 25 samples collected in and alongshore of Manatee, Charlotte, and Lee counties; and background to high concentrations in 24 samples collected in and alongshore of Sarasota County.
In addition, respiratory irritation and fish kills were reported from some beaches in Southwest Florida.
For more information about red tide, go online to myfwc.com/redtidestatus.