Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reportsred tide organism, Karenia brevis, currently extends along ~145 miles of Southwest Florida coastline. Red tide concentrations of >1,000,000 K. brevis cells per liter (“high” concentrations) were observed 10 miles offshore of Pinellas County, and in areas of Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties.
This was the first time observation of “high” concentrations of red tide were made offshore of Pinellas County.
Parts of Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties showed decreased cell concentrations.
None of the samples taken in Charlotte County over the past week contained “high” concentrations of K. brevis. An aerial survey conducted last week indicated the presence of offshore blooms of the marine cyanobacterium, Trichodesmium.
Reports of fish kills were received in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties.
Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties.
Algae eating bacteria tested in Cape Coral
