Over the past week, red tide was observed in 14 samples collected from Northwest Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were not observed. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions. Imagery from November 13 revealed slightly elevated chlorophyll levels in Northwest Florida in Bay County, Gulf County (St. Joseph Bay), and Franklin County.
Additional details are provided below.
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 not reported over the past week in Florida. 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 transport of surface waters along the Gulf Coast. Subsurface currents are variable from Bay County to Pasco County, and southeastern from Pinellas County to northern Monroe County in most areas.
The next status report will be issued on Friday, November 21. 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.
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