Red Tide Report 9/12/14

Present Status: A patchy bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, continues in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show a surface bloom approximately 5 to 15 miles offshore between Dixie and northern Pinellas counties and less than 3 miles offshore of Cedar Key (Levy County). Concentrations in these areas range from background to medium.

Karenia brevis was not detected alongshore of Franklin, Wakulla, Taylor, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties, or offshore of Escambia and Monroe counties. No samples were analyzed this week from Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Bay, or Jefferson counties in northwest Florida. Additional samples analyzed throughout Florida this week did not contain Karenia brevis except for one sample collected alongshore of Sarasota County that contained background concentrations of K. brevis.

Last week, fish kills were reported inshore at Honeymoon Island (Pinellas County) as well as offshore in the bloom area, where low oxygen in bottom waters was also detected. In addition, respiratory irritation was reported last week at Anclote Key, Honeymoon Island, Three Rook Island (Pinellas County) and offshore in the bloom area. A fish kill was reported this week approximately 7 miles offshore of Cedar Key (Levy County). No fish kills or respiratory irritation have been reported alongshore or inshore this week.

Forecasts for the next three days by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show little movement of the bloom patch located closest to the coast near Levy County. The bloom patch further offshore of Levy and Dixie counties is moving northwest, while the patch offshore of northern Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties is moving to the north.

A bloom of Pyrodinium bahamense has been ongoing in Tampa Bay since May, and discolored water has been reported.

FWC has received multiple reports of fish kills and reports of discolored water over the past month in the Indian River Lagoon system. Sampling has revealed bloom concentrations of multiple algae species, including Pyrodinium bahamense  and Limnothrix spp.

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.