Red Tide Report 7-25-14

Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was detected in background to high concentrations in several water samples analyzed this week from offshore of Hernando County and in background concentrations in two samples collected from inshore waters of Charlotte and Lee counties.

Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show a bloom 80 miles long and 50 miles wide approximately 40 to 90 miles offshore between Dixie and Pasco counties. Karenia brevis was found not only on the surface, but also at depths up to 20 meters. This bloom has caused an ongoing fish kill in the northeast Gulf of Mexico.  FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline has received reports of thousands of dead and moribund benthic reef fish including various snapper and grouper species, hogfish, grunts, crabs, sea turtles, flounder, bull sharks, lionfish, baitfish, eel, sea snakes, tomtates, lizardfish, filefish, octopus, and triggerfish. Reports of water discoloration have been received, but no respiratory irritation has been observed or reported. Short term forecasts of bloom movement by the Center of Prediction of Red Tides do not predict considerable movement of the bloom patch in upcoming days.

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

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.