Red Tide In Tampa Bay: What You Need To Know

CLEARWATER, FL — As a red tide bloom in the Gulf of Mexico continues to create problems at beaches in the Tampa Bay area, the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has released information it says water lovers need to know about.

The red tide bloom in question was sitting offshore of Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties as of Friday. In its Friday Red Tide Status report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission noted that concentrations of K. brevis, the organism that causes red tide, were found in background to medium concentrations in 22 water samples taken offshore of Pinellas County. Background to very low concentrations were also found in Manatee County and background to very low were revealed in Sarasota County.

“Fish kills and respiratory irritation were reported over the past week at multiple Pinellas County coastal beaches,” the state wrote in Friday’s report. The most recent reports of respiratory irritation came from Redington Beach. Fish kills were reported at Madeira, Redington and Indian Shores beaches, the state noted.

Red tide is an algae that occurs naturally in the Gulf that can cause respiratory irritation when it accumulates in large amounts. Toxins in red tide can “enter the air and cause respiratory irritation among beachgoers, such as coughing, sneezing or a scratchy throat,” the Mote Marine Laboratory explains on its website. Mote scientists conduct year-round monitoring of Bay area waters.

See Also:

• Red Tide Lingers Off Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee Counties

The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County wants residents and visitors to keep these things in mind as red tide persists in the area:

• People who visit red tide areas may notice varying degrees of throat, eye and nose irritations. Symptoms, the health department wrote in an email to media, tend to go away after people leave the area where red tide is present.
• People with chronic or severe respiratory conditions, such as lung disease or asthma, should avoid areas with active red tides.
• Swimming is generally considered safe when red tide is present, but people should know that some swimmers may experience skin and eye irritation.
• Beachgoers should avoid swimming in areas where dead fish have washed up onshore.
• The harvesting of distressed or dead fish is not advised.
• Pets may also suffer skin irritations if they swim in waters with red tide. Fur and paws should be rinsed off with fresh water after contact, the health department wrote. Pets should also be kept away from dead fish and they shouldn’t be allowed to drink the water.

FWC also reminds that recreational harvesting of such mollusks as hard clams, mussels and oysters is banned when red tide is present. To find out if harvest of shellfish is available in an area, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture online.

To find out the conditions on local beaches, check out Mote Marine’s online tracking tool. To find out more about red tide and its presence in Florida, visit FWC online.

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