The Florida manatee, designated the state marine mammal in 1975, is among the state’s most popular native animal. Manatees are often called gentle giants. They’re slow-moving, peaceful creatures that tend to flock toward human activity in search of warmth. However, they are not having a good year. More than 1,000 of the sea mammals have [...]
Current Conditions Over the past week, K. brevis was detected in 37 samples along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) observed in one sample from offshore of Wakulla County. Thanks to our partners at USF and NOAA, we continue to use satellite imagery to look for patches of elevated chlorophyll as a proxy [...]
Current Conditions A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Over the past week, K. brevis was detected in 130 samples. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in 45 samples: 17 in and offshore of Bay County, three offshore of Gulf County, one in Franklin County, one offshore [...]
In September NOAA announced through its Office of Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) 11 new five-year cooperative agreements that support the continued growth, expansion, and modernization of our nation’s climate, coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing capabilities. In the first year, $41 million will be distributed to cover efforts along U.S. national and territorial waters [...]
Current Conditions A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Over the past week, K. brevis was detected in 49 samples. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in 20 samples: one in Okaloosa County, two in Walton County, 10 in and offshore of Pinellas County, two in Manatee [...]
Current Conditions A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida, where K. brevis was detected in 76 samples over the past week. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in 19 samples: four from and offshore of Pinellas County, eight from Sarasota County, one from Charlotte County, and six from [...]
The Suncoast continues to suffer from the lingering red tide bloom along our shores. Fish kills continue to mount and beachgoers are fleeing the airborne toxins that cause tearing eyes and coughing. START is working on a number of fronts in the Sarasota Bay Watershed to help reduce the excess nutrients in our waterways that [...]
