A patchy bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida from Pinellas to Collier counties.
Over the past week, Karenia brevis was observed in background to high concentrations in six samples collected from Pinellas County; background to medium concentrations in thirteen samples collected from Manatee County; very low to high concentrations in thirty-eight samples collected from Sarasota County; very low to low concentrations in six samples collected from Charlotte County; background to medium concentrations in nineteen samples collected from Lee County; and background to high concentrations in seven samples collected from Collier County.
Karenia brevis was observed at background and very low concentrations in two samples collected from Northwest Florida (Bay County), and at background concentrations in one sample collected from Florida’s East Coast (St. Lucie County).
Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis.
Fish kills affecting multiple species have been reported along Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Collier counties over the past week; respiratory irritation was reported at Barefoot Beach (Collier County) on 10/16, Gasparilla Island (Lee County) on 10/19, and Manatee Beach (Manatee County) on 10/21.
Courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
