Red Tide Status Update

Over the past week, red tide was detected in 23 samples collected from Florida s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations were not observed. We continue to use satellite imagery to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to very low concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, background concentrations in Sarasota County, background to low concentrations in Charlotte County, background concentrations in Lee County, and background concentrations in and offshore of Collier County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected offshore of 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://myfwc.com/ research/saltwater/health/ and 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/ . Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to Lee County predict net western/southwestern movement of surface waters and eastern/southeastern transport of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days. The next status report will be issued on Friday, May 26th. 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.