Based on the most recent available satellite images and analysis of water samples, patchy blooms of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, persist along Bay and Gulf counties in Northwest Florida and Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Charlotte counties in Southwest Florida. Background concentrations were also confirmed in samples collected along Franklin, Lee, and Collier counties.
In Northwest Florida over the past week, Karenia brevis was detected in background to low concentrations in 5 samples collected inshore of Bay County; background to very low concentrations in 2 samples collected inshore of Gulf County; and background concentrations in 1 sample collected inshore of Franklin County. In Southwest Florida, K. brevis was detected in low concentrations in 3 samples collected in and alongshore of Pinellas County; very low to low concentrations in 2 samples collected inshore of Hillsborough County; very low to medium concentrations in 7 samples collected in and alongshore of Manatee County; background to low concentrations in 6 samples collected in and alongshore of Charlotte County; background concentrations in 3 samples collected in and alongshore of Lee County; and background concentrations in 3 samples collected alongshore of Collier County. Along the Gulf Coast, samples were not collected in the past week from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Pasco, or Sarasota counties.
Fish kills and respiratory irritation continue to be reported in bloom areas in both Northwest and Southwest Florida, and are possible in all bloom areas.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show inshore western movement of bloom waters along Bay and Gulf counties in Northwest Florida, and little net movement of bloom waters in Southwest Florida over the next 3 days.
Courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
