The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persisted in Southwest Florida the week ending May 16.
Also, boaters continued to report thick mats of Lyngbya or blue-green algae in Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay, as well as elsewhere in southwest Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated, “This alga blooms each year, has not been shown to be toxic in Florida’s waters and often resembles sawdust but can change color as it decomposes.”
In its red tide report, the FWC said K. brevis was detected in 56 samples.
K. brevis was observed at background to low concentrations in Manatee County.
Also, red tide was found at very low concentrations in Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in Sarasota County, background to medium concentrations in Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in Lee County, very low to high concentrations in Collier County and background to low concentrations in Monroe County.
Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee, Lee and Collier counties.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com/research/redtide.