Red Tide Status 10-24-14

Status Update: A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, has been detected offshore of the Sanibel Island area (Lee County). Recent satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show that patches extend approximately 40 miles alongshore and up to 20 miles offshore. Karenia brevis was also detected this week in background concentrations in one sample collected inshore of Sarasota County, three samples collected inshore of Charlotte County, and in background to very low concentrations in two samples collected offshore of Lee County. In addition, one sample collected alongshore of Escambia County in northwest Florida contained background concentrations of K. brevis.

Other samples collected throughout Florida this week did not contain red tide.

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides (CPR), a partnership between the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, project offshore movement of surface waters and alongshore movement of bottom waters in the bloom region  over the next 3 days.

We would like your input! Please take the time to fill out a survey in regards to the importance of red tide topics to the public and the use and distribution of red tide reports at:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RedTideTopics

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.