Red Tide Status Update: 12/12/25

Over the past week, red tide was observed in 25 samples from Northwest Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in four samples. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions. Imagery from December 11 showed elevated chlorophyll levels in Northwest Florida, specifically in Gulf County (St. Joseph Bay) and Franklin County (see Northwest Coast map).

Additional details are provided below.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in both Bay and Gulf counties, and background to very low concentrations in Franklin County. For additional information, view the Northwest Coast report and map.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week in Northwest Florida (Gulf County).

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5-day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict variable movement of surface waters along much of the Gulf Coast, from Bay County to northern Monroe County. Subsurface currents are also variable across this region, with minimal net movement to predominantly southeastern circulation predicted.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, December 19. Please check our daily sampling map, which 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, 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.       

Please follow our facebook page for status updates and other interesting facts about red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.