State wildlife monitors reported trace concentrations of the red tide organism in a handful of coastal samples across Florida this past week, with no reports of fish kills or respiratory irritation linked to the algae.
According to the latest status report, Karenia brevis—the microscopic organism responsible for red tide—was observed at background concentrations in a single sample from Charlotte County in Southwest Florida. Testing in Northwest Florida showed no presence of the organism over the same sampling period.
Along Florida’s East Coast, scientists detected low concentrations of K. brevis in one sample from Nassau County. An additional four samples collected in Duval County showed background to very low concentrations.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that its Fish Kill Hotline and regional partner network received no reports of fish kills suspected to be tied to red tide over the past week. State health officials also noted zero reports of red-tide-related respiratory irritation among the public.
Researchers continue monitoring nearshore and offshore conditions using satellite imagery provided by the University of South Florida (USF) and NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
Short-term modeling from the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides projects a net southeastern movement of surface and subsurface waters across most areas from Pinellas County south to northern Monroe County over the next 3.5 days.
FWC will publish its next red tide update on Friday, Aug. 7.
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