A bloom of the red tide organism, Karena brevis, persists in Southwest Florida this week, extending along 135 miles of coastline, from northern Pinellas to northern Collier counties, and extends offshore.
In Southwest Florida, concentrations generally increased in Lee county over the past week. Observations of >1,000,000 K. brevis cells per liter (“high” concentrations) occurred in Southwest Florida over the past week, in and/or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties and >20 miles offshore of Collier County.
Reports of fish kills were received for multiple locations in and/or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
Respiratory irritation was reported in Southwest Florida.
Forecasts fo predict southwestern movement of surface waters and southeastern transport of subsurface waters over the next three days.
