Red tide continues to linger along the Southwest Florida coast, with bloom concentrations detected in Manatee and Lee counties.
Over the past week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has detected the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, in 35 water samples collected from Southwest Florida.
Bloom concentrations, which can cause fish kills and respiratory irritation, were found in three samples: one from Manatee County and two from Lee County.
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Satellite imagery suggests a possible red tide patch offshore of Charlotte and Collier counties, but cloud cover has hindered accurate monitoring. FWC scientists will continue to track this potential bloom as clearer satellite data becomes available.
Red Tide Concentrations by County:
- Southwest Florida:
- Pinellas: Background to low concentrations
- Hillsborough: Background concentrations
- Manatee: Background to medium concentrations
- Sarasota: Background to low concentrations
- Charlotte: Background to very low concentrations
- Lee: Low to medium concentrations
- Collier: Background to very low concentrations
- Monroe: Background concentrations offshore
- Northwest Florida: Not observed
- East Coast of Florida: Not observed
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Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported in Lee County over the past week. Respiratory irritation was reported in Sarasota County.
For updated red tide forecasts and information, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast website.
The FWC continues to monitor the red tide situation closely and will provide updates as conditions change. Beachgoers and residents are advised to check current conditions before heading to the coast and to be aware of the potential health impacts of red tide exposure.
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