Red Tide Concerns Persist In Tampa Bay Waters

CLEARWATER, FL — A red tide bloom that developed off Florida’s west coast late last year remains a concern in some counties.

In its Jan. 22 Red Tide Status report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission noted the bloom persists in such areas as Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The state reported these results from the Tampa Bay area:

• Pinellas County – Kaenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide, was found in low to medium concentrations in seven samples collected in and alongshore in this county.
• Hillsborough County – Red tide concentrations of low-to-medium levels were found in 14 samples taken inshore of Hillsborough.
• Manatee County – Low to medium concentrations were found in 11 samples collected inshore of Manatee.
• Sarasota County – Medium concentrations were found in six samples collected inshore of Sarasota County.

Samples were not taken in Pasco County in time for the status update.

“Respiratory irritation continues to be reported in several bloom areas of Southwest Florida,” the agency noted.

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 Laboratoryexplains 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