Red Tide Status Update

Over the past week, red tide was detected in 59 samples collected from Florida s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations were not observed. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track this event.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in Sarasota County, background to low concentrations in Charlotte County, background to very low concentrations in and offshore of Lee County, background to very low concentrations in Collier County, and background concentrations offshore of Monroe County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample each from Walton County, offshore of Hernando County, and from Pasco County.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received from Southwest Florida over the past week from Sarasota County. For more details, please visit https://visitbeaches.org/.

Over the past week, respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported via the Beach Conditions Reporting System in Southwest Florida in Sarasota County. For recent and current information at individual beaches, please visit https://visitbeaches.org/ and for forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit https://habforecast.gcoos.org/

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Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict eastern/southeastern movement of surface waters in most areas and minimal net movement of subsurface waters over the next 3.5 days.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, May 19th. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together.

The FWRI HAB group in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory now have a facebook page. Please like our page and learn interesting facts concerning red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.