Red Tide Report 12-23-15

Based on the most recent available satellite images and analysis of water samples, patchy blooms of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, persist along Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties in Northwest Florida and Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties in Southwest Florida. . Fish kills and respiratory irritation continue to be reported various areas throughout Northwest Florida, and are possible in all bloom areas.

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides shows western movement of bloom waters off Okaloosa County and little net movement of bloom waters along Bay and Gulf counties in Northwest Florida, and little net movement of bloom waters in Southwest Florida.

Due to the holiday, the next status report will not be available until Wednesday December 30, 2015.

This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on the FWRI Red Tide website. The website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Florida Poison Information Center (to report human health effects related to exposure to red tide), and other wildlife related hotlines.

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see the FWRI Red Tide Flickr page. Archived status maps can also be found on Flickr.       

The FWRI HAB group in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory now have a facebook page.  Please like our page and learn interesting facts concerning red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.