The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 75 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast the week ending Dec. 25.
Bloom concentrations greater than 100,000 cells per liter were present in 30 samples, including four in Manatee County.
K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Manatee County, background to high concentrations in- and offshore of Pinellas County, high concentrations in Hillsborough County, background to high concentrations in Sarasota County, low to medium concentrations in- and offshore of Charlotte County, background to very low concentrations in- and offshore of Lee County, very low concentrations offshore of Collier County and background to medium concentrations in- and offshore of Monroe County.
Reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were not received from Manatee County but reports of respiratory irritation were received from Manatee, as well as in Pinellas, Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties.
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