Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in 86 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Bloom concentrations of 100,000-plus cells/liter were observed in 22 samples, including one from Manatee County, 13 from Sarasota County and three from Charlotte County.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to monitor satellite NOAA, USF imagery and offshore and nearshore patches of elevated chlorophyll.
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 Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week along Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte, 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.
A daily sampling map can be accessed via a status report on the FWC Red Tide Current Status page.
For more information on algal blooms and water quality, visit Protecting Florida Together.
This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on the FWRI red tide website.