A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida.
The week ending June 13, K. brevis was detected in 81 samples, including at background to medium concentrations in 28 samples from Manatee County.
K. brevis also was observed at low to medium concentrations in Pinellas County, low to medium concentrations in Hillsborough County, background concentrations in Sarasota County, background to medium concentrations in Lee County, background to medium concentrations in Collier County and low concentrations offshore of Monroe County.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in Pinellas, Manatee, Lee and Collier counties. Fish kills in Manatee were reported from Palmetto, Bradenton and Terra Ceia Bay.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in Pinellas County.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com/research/redtide.