Red Tide Midweek Update 9-24-14

A bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, is ongoing in the northeast Gulf of Mexico.  Due to cloud cover at the southernmost areas of the bloom, recent satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show only the northernmost section of the bloom extending offshore between Franklin and Citrus counties (with likely continuation south to Pasco County), starting approximately 5 to 35 miles offshore, dependent on location.

Samples analyzed by FWC confirm bloom concentrations of K. brevis near the patches revealed by imagery. Specifically, background to high concentrations were detected offshore of Dixie County, and background to medium concentrations were detected offshore of Levy County and in Cedar Key (Levy County). Fish kills and respiratory irritation have been reported in the bloom area.  FWC staff returned today from a 3-day offshore research cruise on the Florida Institute of Oceanography’s R/V Bellows; data from that cruise will be available in reports later this week and next week.  No red tide has been detected so far this week alongshore or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, or Monroe counties.  In addition, a 2-week glider deployment by USF revealed no detectable red tide in bottom waters offshore of Pinellas County.  

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

Widespread Trichodesmium blooms in surface waters have also been observed 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 full status report will be provided this Friday, September 26, 2014

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.