If you’re headed to Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches, red tide could affect your health
The red tide bloom that came to Southwest Florida in the fall continues to cause irritation to marine life and people.
And it’s caused dead fish to pop up near Anna Maria Island.
A Facebook post on Friday showed a few dead fish in the water near the Bradenton Beach marina.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in its latest red tide report this week, indicated very low to medium concentrations of red tide algae blooms in Manatee County.
Neighboring Sarasota County is experiencing very low to high concentrations, the report said.
While Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide, is deadly to fish due to the neurotoxins it produces, K. brevis also affects people as a respiratory irritant. The danger increases for those with asthma.
Manatee County red tide conditions
The amount of red tide in the area represents medium concentration levels, according to the FWC report.
At medium levels, the agency’s report says possible effects include: respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills and detection of surface chlorophyll by satellites.
The FWC’s beach conditions reporting system and fish kill hotline over the last week indicated respiratory irritation suspected in relation to red tide at the following Manatee County locations: Rod and Reel Pier on Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Beach, Coquina Beach, Longboat Key Beach and Manatee Beach.
Red tide resources
There are multiple resources online to see how red tide is impacting local beaches.
They include the NOAA’s Red Tide Respiratory Forecast, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Beach Condition Report, the FWC’s report and USF’s Red Tide Prediction and Tracking.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon in the Gulf of Mexico and can last anywhere from a few days to weeks or months, scientists said in a Herald report earlier this week.
In that report, health officials advise visitors to avoid swimming near dead fish and be conscious of where red tide is present. Public beaches have informational signs posted with safety tips during red tide events.
