Red Tide Found In Four Southwest Florida Counties: FWC

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, has been found in 54 water samples from Sarasota, Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The harmful algal bloom was found Wednesday in background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Sarasota County (31 samples), very low to high concentrations in Charlotte County (four samples), background to very low concentrations in and offshore of Lee County (12 samples) and background to medium concentrations in Collier County (six samples), the FWC said.

Samples from or offshore of Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties did not contain red tide.

In Sarasota County, red tide was found at the following locations:

• Siesta Beach
• Turtle Beach
• Mid-Blackburn Bay
• Southern Blackburn Bay
• Nokomis Beach
• North Jetty
• Turner Key
• Dona Bay
• Venice Marina Park
• Englewood Beach

View the FWC’s red tide status map here.

Karenia brevis produces brevetoxins that affect the central nervous system of fish and other vertebrates and can kill them, the FWC said. When waves break open the red tide organism’s cells, it releases the toxins into the air, which can cause respiratory irritation, especially those with chronic respiratory conditions, like emphysema or asthma.

A fish kill related to red tide at Siesta Beach was reported Wednesday, the FWC said. Report a fish kill to the agency or learn more about reported fish kills here.

Respiratory irritation was also recently reported in Sarasota County, according to the agency.

Snook, redfish and spotted seatrout catch-and-release only in areas affected by red tide through May 31. This includes all waters from Gordon Pass in Collier County north through Pasco County, the FWC said.

The FWC tracks and reports on red tide in the state of Florida weekly. The agency’s red tide resource page can be found here.