Red Tide Report 1.20.17

A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida with patches observed from Pinellas to Lee counties.

Over the past week, Karenia brevis was observed at background to low concentrations in nine samples collected from Pinellas County; background to medium concentrations in five samples collected from Hillsborough County; background to medium concentrations in twenty samples collected from Manatee County; background to high concentrations in thirty samples collected from Sarasota County; background concentrations in four samples collected from Charlotte County; and background to very low concentrations in five samples collected from Lee County.

Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis.

Fish kills were reported along Pinellas County on 1/12, 1/13, 1/15, and 1/17, Lee County on 1/13, and Manatee and Sarasota counties on 1/19. Respiratory irritation was reported along Lee County on 1/13, and Manatee and Sarasota counties on 1/19. Forecasts for Southwest Florida by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict minimal net movement of surface waters, and onshore, southern movement of subsurface waters between southern Pinellas and northern Monroe counties over the next 3 days.

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.       

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