A patchy bloom of the red tide organism persists along Florida’s Gulf Coast, as Karenia brevis was detected in 103 samples.
Bloom concentrations greater than 100,000 cells/liter were observed in Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
- brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in or offshore of Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in Hillsborough County, background to high concentrations in Sarasota County, background to medium in Charlotte County and background and low concentrations in Lee County.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in or Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. In Manatee, fish kills — pinfish — were reported at Manatee Public Beach and in canals of Holmes Beach, as well as at Coquina Beach.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Lee counties.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com/research/redtide.
— Lisa Neff