Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was detected in water samples collected this week ranging from background to low concentrations at several locations in and alongshore of southern Charlotte County south to mid Lee County. Very low concentrations were also reported in several locations offshore of northern Sarasota County and low to high concentrations were detected offshore of Sanibel Island (mid Lee to northern Collier County) with the highest concentrations reported 10 miles west of Barefoot Beach (Collier County). A mortality event was reported inside Charlotte Harbor involving several hundred fish, stretching from Pirate Harbor on the east side to Cape Haze on the west side. Additional samples collected in Florida waters this week did not contain K. brevis. Courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
