Over the past week, red tide was detected in 50 samples collected from Southwest Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in 14 samples: one from Sarasota County, two from Charlotte County, 10 from Lee County, and one from Collier County.
We continue to use chlorophyll satellite imagery (USF, NOAA NCCOS) to track offshore patches suspected to contain K. brevis. Based on satellite imagery from February 13, chlorophyll patches persist along and offshore of Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Monroe counties. In comparison with prior weeks, chlorophyll patches have moved further northward and decreased somewhat in intensity.
Additional details are provided below.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline and other partners over the past week for Southwest Florida (Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Monroe counties).
Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida (Sarasota, Lee, Collier, and Monroe counties). For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict net northern movement of surface waters and net northwestern transport of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days.
The next status report will be issued on Wednesday, February 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
1 comment on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.
Charles
If you want clean waters, don't forget to sign the petition to put the question to the voters on the next statwide ballot — let the voters decide whether they want clean water (not just the investors funding their politicians).
Get a petition that is automatically filled with your correct voting information that only requires your signature and the date. They are available at the site, https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/ — send the link to others, too.
It is up to us to make sure the voters can make this choice, not a few developers who want no restrictions while they pollute.
Get the petition, sign it, return it (mail, drop-off, even picked-up, or a printed copy delivered if you need that). Send the link to help get other voters to sign also — surely, you know five or ten who would. Let's get us off that hot spot map!
Sunday, February 16 Report this