Current Conditions
Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in 85 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 21 samples: 1 offshore of Pinellas County, 2 offshore of Manatee County, 5 in and offshore of Sarasota County, 4 offshore of Charlotte County, 8 offshore of Lee County, and 1 offshore of Collier County. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions. Additional information:
In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in and offshore of Hillsborough County, very low to medium concentrations in and offshore of Manatee County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Sarasota County, medium to high concentrations offshore of Charlotte County, very low to medium concentrations in and offshore of Lee County, and background to medium concentrations offshore of Collier County.
In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Franklin County.
Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC and other partners over the past week for Southwest Florida (Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties).
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida (Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee Counties).
Red Tide Status Report Courtesy of FWC