Red Tide Status Update for December 29, 2022.
Current ConditionsThe red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 39 samples collected from and offshore of Southwest Florida over the past week. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 11 samples. Four in Pinellas County. Four in Manatee County Three in Sarasota County. Additional details are provided below.
- In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at low to medium concentrations in Pinellas County. Also, background to medium concentrations in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Background concentrations in Charlotte and Lee counties. Finally, background to low concentrations in and offshore of Collier County.
- In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
- Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received in Southwest Florida from Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Collier counties over the past week. For more details, please visit https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/ and https://visitbeaches.org/.
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported via the Beach Conditions Reporting System over the past week in Southwest Florida.
These were in Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Reports of respiratory irritation from these counties were also received through the Fish Kill Hotline. For recent and current information at individual beaches, please visit https://visitbeaches.org/. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit https://habforecast.gcoos.org/.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict variable movement of surface waters. Also southeastern transport of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days.
The next status report will be issued on Wednesday, January 4th. Please check our daily sampling map. That can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together.
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. You'll also find 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.
Fore more on Southwest Florida fishing, and further Red Tide Update, check out Reel Talk
