Karenia brevis Found at Background to Very Low Concentrations Across Three Coasts; Conditions Tracked via Satellite Imagery
The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in a total of five water samples collected along Florida’s coasts over the past week, though concentrations remain at very low or background levels, according to the latest status report. Crucially, no fish kills or human respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide were reported during this period.
Monitoring efforts, which utilize both satellite imagery from USF and NOAA NCCOS, indicate the organism’s presence across multiple regions:
- Southwest Florida: One sample collected in Lee County showed K. brevis at background concentrations.
- Northwest Florida: Two samples from Gulf County observed the organism at very low concentrations.
- Florida East Coast: Single samples from Nassau County and Duval County each registered K. brevis at background concentrations.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that its Fish Kill Hotline received no reports of marine life mortality linked to red tide, and no cases of respiratory irritation were reported in the state.
Looking ahead, forecasts for the next 3.5 days predict a net movement of surface waters to the south or southwest and subsurface waters to the southeast in most areas between Pinellas County and northern Monroe County, a trend tracked by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
The public is encouraged to check the daily sampling map available via the online status report on the FWC’s Red Tide Current Status page. The next full status report is scheduled to be issued on Friday, October 3.
READ: Deadly Strike: Two Men, Two Dogs Killed By Lightning In Florida
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