Current Conditions
Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in 60 samples collected from the Gulf Coast of Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in 19 samples: one from Manatee County, 12 from Sarasota County, two from Charlotte County, and four from Collier County. We continue to use satellite chlorophyll imagery (USF, NOAA NCCOS) to track variability in a chlorophyll patch along Sarasota to Collier counties. Imagery from January 6, available for areas without cloud cover, revealed a contiguous patch of chlorophyll extending from central Sarasota County to offshore of Collier County. A tendril extends south from this patch and connects a second area of patches, about 10-15 miles west of Monroe County and about 25 miles north of the Florida Keys.
Additional details are provided below.
In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to low concentrations in Pinellas County, background to medium concentrations in Manatee County, very low to high concentrations in Sarasota County, low to high concentrations in Charlotte County, background to low concentrations in Lee County, and very low to medium concentrations in Collier County.
In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at very low concentrations in one sample collected offshore of Levy County.
Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline and other partners over the past week for Southwest Florida (Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties).
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida (Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties). For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.
Red Tide Status Report Courtesy of FWC