The presence of the naturally occurring red tide organism, Karenia brevis, has been detected at background concentrations in two water samples collected off the coast of Southwest Florida over the past week.
According to recent reports, the low-level detections were made in samples taken offshore of Sarasota and Collier counties. Background concentrations are the lowest level of detection and are not typically associated with impacts to human health or marine life.
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State officials and research partners are closely monitoring the situation. Satellite imagery examining chlorophyll levels, an indicator of algal biomass, currently shows clear conditions in Southwest Florida with no signs of elevated algal blooms.
No fish kills suspected to be related to red tide have been reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week. Additionally, there have been no reports of respiratory irritation in Florida suspected to be related to red tide during this period.
Monitoring efforts continue across the state. In Northwest Florida and along the Florida East Coast, Karenia brevis was not observed in samples collected over the past week.
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Forecasts provided by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for the area from Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict a northern transport of surface waters and minimal movement of subsurface waters in most areas over the next three and a half days.
The next red tide status report is scheduled to be issued on Friday, May 9th.
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