A bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, prompted a May 20 public warning.
The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County notified the public of a red tide bloom near Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island, after samples collected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicated low levels of red tide.
The health warning said, “Some people may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms. Some individuals with breathing problems, such as asthma, might experience more severe symptoms.”
The health department recommended that people experiencing adverse symptoms stay away from beach areas or go into an air-conditioned space.
The department also recommended:
- People avoid swimming around dead fish;
- Against harvesting or eating molluscan shellfish and distressed or dead fish from the location;
- Keep pets away from water, seafoam and dead sea life.
Also, people may choose to wear paper filter masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.
For the week ending May 23, K. brevis was detected in 54 samples.
In Southwest Florida, K. brevis was observed at very low concentrations in Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in Manatee County, background to low concentrations in Sarasota County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Lee County, very low to high concentrations in and offshore of Collier County and background to low concentrations offshore of Monroe County.
Also, patches of a marine cyanobacterium have been reported in offshore, coastal and nearshore waters, including in Manatee County.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in Manatee, Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties.
Respiratory irritation was reported in Pinellas, Charlotte, and Collier counties.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com/research/redtide.