The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, exceeded 100,000 cells per in 40 samples on the Gulf coast for the week ending Dec. 11, including one in Manatee County, 31 in Sarasota County, one in Charlotte County, five in and offshore of Lee County and two in and offshore of Collier County.
K. brevis very low to medium concentrations in Manatee, background to low concentrations in Pinellas, low to high concentrations in Sarasota, very low to medium concentrations in and offshore of Charlotte, background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Lee and background to high concentrations in and offshore of Collier County.
Checking in with The Islander Dec. 3 via text message, Capt. Scott Moore said, “Longboat Key to Cortez in the bay is the worst right now and around the village in Longboat Key — there’s dead fish in the mangroves.” Moore also reported seeing dead pinfish “from Cortez Bridge to Longboat Pass.”
Reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received during the week from Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
In Manatee County, fish kills — mullet and baitfish — were reported at Anna Maria’s Bean Point, on Longboat Key and also in Palmetto at the entrance to the Manatee River.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
For more information, go online to myfwc.com.