A patchy bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, is present along Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties in southwest Florida.
Over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in 5 samples collected in and alongshore of Pinellas County, background to very low concentrations in 5 samples collected in and offshore of Manatee County, background to very low concentrations in 8 samples collected in and alongshore of Sarasota County, low concentrations in 2 samples collected in and alongshore of Charlotte County, and background to medium concentrations in 16 samples collected in and alongshore of Lee County.
Additional samples collected throughout Florida this week did not contain K. brevis.
Report Courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
