Red tide remains in area [MAP]

In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Pasco Counties, with “medium” and/or “high” concentrations occurring only in Santa Rosa County samples.

Bloom concentrations of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persist on Florida’s Southwest, Northwest, and East coasts. Fish kills were observed in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Okaloosa and Bay counties.

Additional details are provided below.

Red Tide Mid-Week Update for October 24, 2018

Current Conditions

• Over the past week in Southwest Florida, K. brevis was observed in samples spanning Pinellas to Monroe counties. Relative to last week, K. brevis concentrations generally increased from central Pinellas to northern Lee counties and decreased in Monroe County. Observations of >1,000,000 K. brevis cells per liter (“high” concentrations) occurred in and/or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, and northern Sarasota counties only.  “Medium” K. brevis concentrations were detected in these same areas, and in Charlotte and northern Lee counties.

• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Pasco Counties, with “medium” and/or “high” concentrations occurring only in Santa Rosa County samples.
• On the East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was observed from Volusia to Miami-Dade counties. “High” concentrations occurred only in Brevard, Indian River, and St. Lucie counties, and “medium” concentrations occurred in these same general areas but extended further south to Martin County. Relative to last week, K. brevisconcentrations increased in parts of Brevard, St. Lucie and Martin counties and decreased in most of Broward County.

Fish Kills
Reports of fish kills were received in Southwest Florida (from Pinellas, Manatee, and Collier counties) and in Northwest Florida (from Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, and Franklin counties). Along the East Coast of Florida, reports of fish kills were received for Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties.

Respiratory Irritation
Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida (in Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties), Northwest Florida (in Okaloosa and Bay counties), and the East Coast (in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River and St. Lucie counties).

Forecast
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to southern Monroe counties predict net southwestern transport of surface waters and net southeastern movement of subsurface waters in most areas over the next three days. Three-day forecasts for Escambia to western Gulf counties predict net southwestern surface transport and net eastern subsurface movement in most areas.