A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists along Florida’s Gulf Coast, where K. brevis was detected in bloom concentrations exceeding 100,000 cells per liter offshore of Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Manatee County, as well as background to high concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Sarasota, very low to high concentrations in and offshore of Charlotte, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Lee and very low concentrations offshore of Collier County.
K. brevis also was detected in Northwest Florida.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported along and/or offshore in Manatee, Citrus, Hernando, Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in Manatee, Hernando, Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com/research/redtide.