A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida and extends along ~130 miles of coastline, from northern Pinellas to Lee counties, and extends offshore (10 miles or more). A patchy bloom ofK. brevis was also observed in Northwest Florida for the first time this past week.
Relative to last week, increased K. brevis concentrations were observed at multiple locations in Southwest Florida (in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte counties). Decreased concentrations were observed in southern Lee and Collier counties. In Northwest Florida, K. brevis was observed in seven counties this week, compared to only one county last week (Bay County). Observations of >1,000,000 K. breviscells per liter (“high” concentrations) occurred only in Southwest Florida (in or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties). More specific details are provided below and at http://myfwc.com/redtidestatus.
In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to high concentrations in or offshore of Pinellas County, background to high concentrations in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in Sarasota County, medium to high concentrations in or offshore of Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in or offshore of Lee County, and background concentrations in or offshore of Collier County.
In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at very low concentrations in Santa Rosa County, very low concentrations in Okaloosa County, very low concentrations in Walton County, background to medium concentrations in or offshore of Bay County, background concentrations in Gulf County, background concentrations in Franklin County, and very low concentrations in Pasco County.
Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis.
We continue to receive reports of fish kills in Southwest Florida. Over the past week, reports were received for multiple locations in and/or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. In Northwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received in and/or offshore of Walton and Bay counties. More detailed information is available athttp://myfwc.com/fishkill.
Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Lee counties.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict net southern movement of surface waters and net southeastern transport of subsurface waters over the next three days for most areas. Forecasts for Northwest Florida predict net eastern transport of surface and subsurface waters for most areas.
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.
Additional information regarding the current status of algal blooms in South Florida is being consolidated and posted on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s website: https://floridadep.gov/dear/algal-bloom.