Red Tide Sticking Around the Bay Area

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Red tide blooms that have created issues for local beachgoers over the past few weeks are still a problem, state officials report, but the outlook is getting better.

In its Dec. 30 Red Tide Status report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission noted persistent blooms in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties. Samples were not taken last week in Sarasota County where blooms have been an issue for weeks. Pasco County waters were also not sampled in time for the Dec. 30 report.

The state reported these results from the Tampa Bay area:

• Pinellas County – Three samples were collected alongshore here with low concentrations found
• Hillsborough County – Two samples with very low to low concentrations were collected inshore here
• Manatee County – A total of seven samples collected here tested positive for very low to medium concentrations

“Fish kills and respiratory irritation continue to be reported in bloom areas,” the state noted. Blooms have also been found in Northwest Florida.

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 Conservation Commission