The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected at background levels in only one Southwest Florida sample over the past week. Additional details are provided below.
In Southwest Florida over the past week, a fish kill report was received for Collier County (please see https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline).
Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Manatee County.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict variable transport of surface waters (with minimal net change in most areas) and southeastern movement of subsurface waters over the next four days.
A midweek status update will be available on Wednesday, February 20th and the next complete status report will be issued on Friday, February 22nd. Please check our daily sampling map, which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page.
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 TideFlickr 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.