Red Tide Spotted Off Sarasota Coastline

A small patch of red tide has been detected off the Sarasota coastline.

According to the National Weather Service, red tide is anticipated to remain in the area through Thursday evening. 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 Laboratory explains on its website.

Mote scientists conduct year-round monitoring of Bay area waters. They found medium concentrations of red tide in samples taken from the Sarasota area on Monday and Tuesday, a press release stated. Some dead fish were also reported in the Venice area on Tuesday.

Beachgoers with respiratory conditions, such as emphysema and asthma, may be more susceptible to red tide irritants, the weather service noted in its Beach Hazards Statement.

“If you experience uncomfortable symptoms, consider going to an unaffected beach nearby,” the agency noted.

To find out the conditions on local beaches, visit the Mote Marine Laboratory online.

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