Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in bloom concentrations of more than 100,000 cells/liter in 25 samples: one from Pinellas County, 15 in Sarasota County, one from Hillsborough County, six from Lee County and two offshore of Collier County.
- brevis was observed at background to low concentrations in Manatee County.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline and other partners over the past week along Pinellas, Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Pinellas, Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties.
For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict variable movement of surface and subsurface waters over the next 3.5 days.
For more information on harmful algal blooms and water quality, visit Protecting Florida Together.
The FWRI HAB group in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory now have a facebook page, including interesting facts on red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.