High concentrations of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed in Sarasota County this week, FWC says.
Here is a summary of FWC's findings in southwest Florida:
In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to very low concentrations in and/or offshore of Pinellas County, background to high concentrations in Sarasota County, low to high concentrations in Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in and/or offshore of Lee County, and background to high concentrations in and/or offshore of Collier County.
Bloom concentrations (> 100,000 cells per liter) persist in Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. Two samples from Sarasota County, one sample from Charlotte County, 25 samples from and offshore of Lee County, and three samples from Collier County contained high concentrations of K. brevis (>1 million cells per liter).
RELATED: Concentrations of red tide reappearing on some Florida beaches
Fish kills reports were received for Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, as was respiratory irritation.
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict net southwestern movement of surface waters and net southeastern transport of subsurface waters in most areas over the next four days.
