Red Tide Detected in 4 Gulf Coast Counties

SARASOTA, FL — The good news is that Florida’s red tide organism hasn’t caused any reported problems along Tampa Bay area beaches over the past week. The bad news is the organism, also known as Karenia brevis, was found in water samples taken from four Gulf Coast counties.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sarasota County had 20 samples taken from its waters over the past week come back with background to low concentrations of the red tide organism. In Manatee County, four samples tested positive for background to very low concentrations. Pinellas County, which has test red tide free over the past few weeks, did have one sample come back with background concentrations this week, FWC noted in its weekly Red Tide Status report.

A single sample from Lee County also showed background concentrations of the organism, the state said. Other counties along the Gulf Coast had no issues reported. No problems related to fish kills or respiratory complaints from beachgoers were noted in this week’s report.

Red tide is an algae that occurs naturally in the Gulf that can cause respiratory irritations 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.

Beachgoers with respiratory conditions, such as emphysema and asthma, may be more susceptible to red tide irritants. FWC recommends these public health tips when red tide is present:

• People who experience issues, such as nose, throat and eye irritations may want to leave the immediate area
• Those with severe or chronic respiratory conditions should avoid areas that are known to have active red tide
• When dead fish are present alongshore, it is advised that beachgoers avoid swimming in the water
• Red tide may also pose a risk to pets. Pets should not eat fish or drink water from water with a high concentration of red tide
• Recreational harvesting of such mollusks as hard clams, mussels and oysters is banded 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.

Map courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife