A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Bloom concentrations greater than 100,000 cells per liter were not observed in Manatee County but were observed in Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
In Southwest Florida, K. brevis was observed at background to low concentrations in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, background to medium concentrations offshore of Hillsborough County, background to high concentrations in Sarasota County, low to medium concentrations in Charlotte County and background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Lee County.
- brevis also was observed in North Florida and on the East Coast.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported near Longboat Key in Manatee, as well as in Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee counties.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com/research/redtide.