Where is the red tide in Florida? What to know about the toxic bloom along the coast

Red tide is blooming along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

This past week, levels of the toxic algae dropped around Manatee, Sarasota and Southwest Florida, although the toxic algae is still around, water samples and local beach reports show. But the bloom has intensified in Lower Tampa Bay and around Pinellas County, including St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island.

The organism that causes red tide, Karenia brevis, was found in 88 samples over the past week in waters from Pinellas County south to Monroe County. K. brevis produces neurotoxins that kill fish and other marine life and can make humans ill with breathing irritation and other symptoms.

People with respiratory conditions are at particular risk of severe effects from exposure, health officials say.

The current red tide bloom came near shore in October and has since been washing dead fish and marine life onto beaches up and down the coast. Intermittent respiratory irritation has been reported at local beaches for several weeks.

In Manatee County waters, near Bradenton, levels of the algae were down slightly compared to last week. Around Anna Maria Island, low levels of K. brevis were found in water samples collected at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, offshore to the northeast of the island and at Longboat Pass. One medium concentration was also collected near Longboat Pass.

Low levels were also found in Manatee County waters at Mead Point near Robinson Preserve and in several samples around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

At low levels, some respiratory irritation is likely. At levels of medium and above, red tide is considered to be at bloom strength, and the likelihood of respiratory irritation and fish kills grows.

Around Pinellas County, bloom concentrations of red tide were found along Gulf beaches from Johns Pass south this week, with the highest levels around St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille Beach, Fort De Soto and Maximo Park on the edge of Lower Tampa Bay.

Red tide forecast

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts the respiratory threat from red tide. On Thursday, NOAA warned of a moderate to high risk of respiratory irritation on the coasts of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties over the next 36 hours.

The respiratory risk is most likely when winds are blowing on or along the shore.

Conditions have improved this week on Anna Maria Island, according to Mote Marine Laboratory’s beach conditions report, which is updated by lifeguards. There was no respiratory irritation or dead fish present at Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach on Wednesday or Thursday, the reports said.

A red tide forecast from University of South Florida predicts that very low to medium levels of the algae will circulate around Anna Maria Island through this weekend in Gulf-side and Intracoastal waters.

Red tide levels are expected to remain high around southern Pinellas County in the coming days, the forecast predicts, and Sarasota County’s coast could see more bloom levels.

Red tide resources

Several online resources make it easy to check whether a particular county, beach or coastline in Southwest Florida are currently affected by a red tide bloom.

NOAA’s Red Tide Respiratory Forecast is updated several times a day with the level of red tide risk at specific beaches along the Gulf Coast, from Pinellas County through Collier County. Visit habforecast.gcoos.org.

Mote Marine Laboratory’s Beach Conditions Report is updated frequently by lifeguards and includes reports of red tide conditions, including respiratory irritation and dead fish, as well as other hazards on local beaches. Visit visitbeaches.org.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issues weekly red tide reports with conditions by county and maintains a map of red tide sampling around the state. Visit myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide.

University of South Florida’s Red Tide Prediction and Tracking center provides short term forecasts of red tide’s movement around Tampa Bay and the west coast of Florida. Visit ocgweb.marine.usf.edu/hab_tracking.