Red Tide Report 9/19/14

A patchy bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, continues in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show a surface bloom approximately 5 to 35 miles offshore, dependent on location, between Taylor and Pasco counties, and less than 3 miles offshore of Cedar Key (Levy County). Concentrations of the red tide organism in these areas range from background to medium.

Fish kills have been reported off Horseshoe Beach (Dixie County) and approximately 9-12 miles offshore of Keaton Beach (Taylor County), as well as offshore in the bloom area.  No respiratory irritation has been reported alongshore the west coast of Florida; however, respiratory irritation is possible in the bloom areas.

Red tide was not detected in, along, or offshore of Walton, Bay, Franklin, Escambia, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, or Monroe counties. No samples were analyzed this week from Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Gulf, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Citrus, or Pasco  counties.  Additional samples analyzed throughout Florida this week did not contain red tide.

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for the next three days show offshore movement of surface waters and onshore movement of bottom waters for the bloom patch located at the coast near Levy County. Offshore of Pasco and Hernando Counties, the surface patch is predicted to move WNW, and bottom waters are predicted to move SE towards the coast. The patch located south between Wakulla and Taylor counties and ESE of Franklin County is predicted to move west towards the coast.

Aerial and boat surveys by FWC staff along the west coast of Florida over the past week, in conjunction with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, have revealed blooms of the colonial cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp. approximately 1 to 5 miles offshore of Clearwater Beach (Pinellas County) south to Sanibel Island (Lee County) and offshore in the current red tide bloom areas.  

A bloom of Pyrodinium bahamense has been ongoing in Tampa Bay since May, and discolored water has been reported.

FWC has received multiple reports of fish kills and reports of discolored water over the past month in the Indian River Lagoon system (Brevard County). Sampling has revealed bloom concentrations of multiple algae species, including Pyrodinium bahamense and Limnothrix spp.

Tables and maps of sample results are available on our Web site: (http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/statewide/).     

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: (http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/contact/).

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see our flickr page at (http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc) and click on “Harmful Algal Bloom Species”.                                                                                

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

This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on our Web site: (http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/statewide/). 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: (http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/contact/).

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see our flickr page at (http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc) and click on “Harmful Algal Bloom Species”.

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