The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in four samples from Southwest Florida the week ending Feb. 2.
K. brevis was at observed at background to medium concentrations in Manatee County, background to low concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in Sarasota County, medium concentrations in Charlotte County, and very low to medium concentrations in Lee County.
In Manatee, the organism was reported in medium concentrations at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier on Lower Tampa Bay, very low concentrations at the Longboat Pass Boat Ramp and background concentrations near the site for the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria.
K. brevis also was found on the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf in Northwest Florida.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported from Lee and Sarasota counties. Respiratory irritation was reported in Sarasota, Lee and Collier.
For more information, go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission site at myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/.
— Lisa Neff