Midweek Red Tide Status Update (June 27, 2018)

A patchy bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida.

In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected offshore of Pinellas County, background concentrations in one sample collected from Manatee County, background to medium concentrations in 15 samples collected from Sarasota County, medium to high concentrations in four samples collected from Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in 12 samples collected from or offshore of Lee County, and background to low concentrations in three samples collected from Collier County.

Background concentrations were observed in one sample collected offshore of Hernando County. Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis. 

Over the past week, fish kills were reported in Southwest Florida in Sarasota County (Blackburn Bay, Captiva Beach, Caspersen Beach, Lido Key, Manasota Beach, Nokomis Beach, Siesta Key, Turtle Beach, Venice Beach, Venice North Jetty), in and offshore of Charlotte County (Boca Grande Beach, Bull Bay, Englewood Beach, Gasparilla Sound, Lemon Bay, Stump Pass Beach), in Lee County (Boca Grande Pass, Gasparilla Island, North Captiva Pass), and in Collier County (Big Marco Pass, Caxambas Pass, South Marco Island).  

Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Manatee County (6/22 at Coquina Beach), Sarasota County (6/19 at Caspersen Beach, 6/20-6/24 at Manasota Beach; 6/19 and 6/22-6/23 at Lido Key; 6/19 and 6/21-6/26 at Nokomis; 6/20-6/21 and 6/23-6/24 at Siesta Key; 6/20-6/22 and 6/24-6/26 at Venice Beach; 6/20-6/26 at Venice North Jetty), and Lee County (6/26 at Captiva; 6/20 -6/22, 6/25 and 6/27 at Gasparilla Island Range Lighthouse, 6/23 at Gasparilla Island State Park).  

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict minimal net movement in surface waters for most areas, and southern, onshore transport of subsurface waters over the next three 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.