Red Tide Update 9/3/14

An offshore bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, is ongoing in the northeast Gulf of Mexico.  Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show a surface bloom extending between Dixie and Pinellas counties, approximately 15 miles offshore between Dixie and Pasco counties and 5 miles offshore in southern Pasco and northern Pinellas counties. Recent samples analyzed by FWC show that this bloom contains non-toxic algae at some locations.  Concentrations of K. brevis range from very low to high in the bloom area. Fish kills and respiratory irritation have been reported inshore at Honeymoon Island (Pinellas County) as well as offshore in the bloom area.

Forecasts by the Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show little surface movement and slow southeast bottom movement of the bloom for the next several days. No red tide was detected alongshore or offshore of Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, or Monroe counties.

A full status report will be provided this Friday, September 5, 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.