Bloom concentrations of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persist on Florida’s Southwest, Northwest, and East coasts. Patchiness was observed in each area. Additional details are provided below.
In Southwest Florida, relative to last week, K. brevis concentrations generally increased from northern Pinellas through Lee counties and decreased in parts of Collier and Monroe counties. Observations of >1,000,000 K. brevis cells per liter (“high” concentrations) occurred in Pinellas, Manatee, and northern Sarasota counties only, with “medium” K. brevis concentrations detected from Pinellas to northern Lee counties. For Northwest Florida, “high” concentrations of K. brevis were observed in Bay County, and “medium” concentrations occurred in Bay and Santa Rosa counties. On the East Coast, “high” concentrations of K. brevis occurred in samples from southern Brevard to northern St. Lucie counties, and medium concentrations occurred from southern Brevard to Martin counties. Relative to last week K. brevis concentrations generally increased from Brevard to Martin counties and decreased in areas of Broward County.
In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to high concentrations in or offshore of Pinellas County, background to high concentrations in or offshore of Manatee County, very low to high concentrations in Sarasota County, very low to medium concentrations in Charlotte County, background to medium concentrations in or offshore of Lee County, background to very low concentrations in Collier County, and background to very low concentrations in or offshore of Monroe County.
In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at low concentrations in Escambia County, medium concentrations in Santa Rosa County, background concentrations in Walton County, background to high concentrations in Bay County, and background concentrations in Pasco County.
Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Volusia County, very low to high concentrations in Brevard County, background to high concentrations in Indian River County, background to high concentrations in St. Lucie County, background to medium concentrations in or offshore of Martin County, background to low concentrations in Palm Beach County, background to low concentrations in Broward County, and background to very low concentrations in or offshore of Miami-Dade County.
Fish Kills
In Southwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received for Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Collier counties. In Northwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received for Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, and Franklin counties. Along the East Coast of Florida, reports of fish kills were received for Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties.
Respiratory Irritation
Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida (in Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties). Respiratory irritation was also reported in Northwest Florida (in Okaloosa and Bay counties) and the Florida East Coast (in Brevard and St. Lucie counties).
Report courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
