Red Tide Status Update: November 6, 2026

Over the past week, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed in 12 samples from Northwest Florida and at background concentrations in one sample from Southwest Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in six samples from Gulf County.

We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions. Imagery from November 5 shows elevated chlorophyll within estuarine waters of Bay and Gulf counties, where red tide has also been observed over the past week, and extending offshore. We are working with partners to try to obtain samples to help determine if red tide is present offshore. 

Additional details follow.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Pinellas County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Escambia County, background and low concentrations in Bay County, and background to high concentrations in Gulf County.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

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

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in Northwest Florida (Gulf County) 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 and subsurface waters from Bay to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, November 13. 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.