Red Tide Status Update: 10/17/25

Over the past week, red tide was observed in eight samples collected along Florida's Coasts. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in three samples from Gulf County. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions. Imagery from October 16 revealed elevated chlorophyll levels in Northwest Florida in Gulf County (St. Joseph Bay), Franklin County, and alongshore from southern Dixie to Citrus counties.

Additional details are provided below.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Lee County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Bay County and low to high concentrations in six samples collected from Gulf County.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week in Northwest Florida (Bay and Gulf counties).

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Bay County (October 13 in Mexico Beach). For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5-day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict variable to minimal surface currents in most areas between Bay and Citrus counties and south to southwestern net transport of surface currents from Hernando to northern Monroe counties. Subsurface currents are variable from Bay County to Taylor County, and predominantly southeastern from Dixie County to northern Monroe County. 

The next status report will be issued on Friday, October 24. Please check our daily sampling map, which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together.

This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on the FWRI Red Tide website. The website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Florida Poison Information Center (to report human health effects related to exposure to red tide), and other wildlife related hotlines.

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see the FWRI Red Tide Flickr page. Archived status maps can also be found on Flickr.       

Please follow our facebook page for status updates and other interesting facts about red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.