A bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, has been observed in Southwest Florida along Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Karenia brevis was observed in Southwest Florida in background to very low concentrations in five samples collected from Pinellas County, background to high concentrations in forty-one samples collected from Manatee and Sarasota counties, background to very low concentrations in three samples collected from Charlotte County, background to low concentrations in five samples collected from Lee County, and background to very low concentrations in four samples collected from Collier County. One sample collected alongshore of Okaloosa County (Northwest Florida) contained very low concentrations of K. brevis.
Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis.
Fish kills affecting multiple species, along with slight respiratory irritation, have been reported in Manatee and Sarasota counties since September 19th.
Courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
