Blooms of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, are present in, along, and offshore of eastern Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, and Gulf counties in northwest Florida, and in, along, and offshore of Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and northern Lee counties in Southwest Florida.
So far this week, K. brevis has been detected in background to high concentrations in 9 samples collected in, along, and offshore of Bay and Gulf counties, and in background to high concentrations in 37 samples collected in, along, and offshore of Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. Background to low concentrations were detected in 5 samples collected in, along, and offshore of Lee County.
Within the Gulf of Mexico, Karenia brevis was not detected this week in or alongshore of Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton, Franklin, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pinellas, or Collier counties. No samples were analyzed so far this week from Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Pasco, Hillsborough, or Monroe counties.
Fish kills and respiratory irritation have previously been reported at Mexico and Windmark beaches (Bay County), as well as Cape San Blass, Stone Memorial State Park, Eagle Harbor, and Massalina Bayou (Gulf County). Extensive fish kills continue to be reported this week in St. Joseph Bay (Gulf County) and St. Andrews Bay (Bay County). Fish kills and respiratory irritation have also previously been reported at Casey Key Beach and offshore of Venice (Sarasota County), and fish kills have continue to be reported offshore of Manasota Key (Charlotte County). Additional fish kills were reported this week inshore of Sarasota County at Indian Mound Park.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show slight west and alongshore movement of the bloom patch located in Northwest Florida over the next three days, and offshore movement of surface water within the bloom patch in Southwest Florida over the next three days, with southern, inshore movement of bottom water.
Courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
