September 6, 2024 — The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed in background concentrations during the past week in two samples, one on Florida’s southwest coast off Manatee County and the other in the Atlantic off Flagler County, according to reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Manatee County. For additional information, view the Southwest Coast report and map.
- In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed. For additional information, view the Northwest Coast report and map.
- Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Flagler County. For additional information, view the East Coast report and map.
Fish Kills: There have been no reports of fish kills related to red tide over the past week, the FWC reported.
Respiratory Irritation: Respiratory irritation related to red tide was not reported in Florida over the past week, according to the FWC.
Beach conditions around the state
For reports of current conditions at individual beaches along the Florida coast, go to Interactive map with beach-by-beach detail.
You may also be interested > Blue-green algae updates
Frequently asked questions:
What is Red Tide? Common name for harmful algal blooms occurring along coastal regions in Florida from large concentrations of aquatic micro-organisms, specifically an organism called karenia brevis. Bloom events are stimulated by nutrients from terrestrial runoff containing fertilizer, sewage and livestock wastes.
Should I avoid red tide? Toxins from red tide can cause breathing problems and irritate your eyes, nose and throat. Reactions to red tide are worse for people with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis or any chronic lung disease. If you have health issues, stay away from areas with red tide. Pets can become sick from red tide, so keep them away from those areas, as well as contaminated marine animals and fish.
Can we swim near red tide? Don’t swim in or around red tide because the toxin can cause skin irritation, rashes and burning and sore eyes.
What should I do if I come in contact with Red Tide? Wash off with soap and water. You can get relief from respiratory symptoms by being in an air-conditioned space. For people without asthma or chronic respiratory problems, over-the-counter antihistamines can help. If your symptoms don’t get better, see a doctor.
What about the dead fish on the beach? Red tides kill fish and other marine life — avoid contact and don’t swim or walk in areas with dead fish. Keep your pets away from these areas. Don’t harvest or eat distressed or dead fish (or any animals) from or near a red tide. Fish caught live and healthy can be eaten if filleted and rinsed thoroughly with fresh water.
Are shellfish affected by Red Tide? Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, clams, oysters and scallops are filter feeders that can concentrate toxins. These and other shellfish, if harvested from red tide areas, may be contaminated.
Additional Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Florida Department of Health
- Protecting Florida Together
- Florida Poison Control Information Center
Bob Rountree is a retired journalist, beach bum, angler and camper who has explored Florida for decades. No adventure is complete without finding a scenic paddle trail or unpaved road to nowhere. Bob co-founded FloridaRambler.com with fellow journalist Bonnie Gross 11 years ago.
Craig
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
Red Tide is MUCH worse than it's made out to be - it's played down because Billions of dollars are at stake. Fixing it? No way - Mosaic funds Mote. The Gov. has made it clear (Scott and DeSantis) that environmentalism is a "woke" fantasy,.
People are getting very sick. Talk to Doctors. Some are moving away (to the east coast).
This is not just an irritant - it's a poison (duh, dead fish and manatees/dolphins). It is likely shortening human lives - those with other respiratory problems.
It's been studied - but, of course, not by the State. Why would they want to know the truth? You can't dump billions of gallons of sewage and fertilizer into shallow warm water without problems!
Kim Wroblewski
Tuesday 2nd of November 2021
The red tide can bother you at sometimes. But whiat our family does is just go down the beach a couple miles and you really can’t notice it at all. Sometimes it’ll bother you worse than others. But don’t give up hope our Florida weather is beautiful and so are the beaches so just enjoy it the best you can and except the red tide Kim Wroblewski
Susan
Saturday 14th of August 2021
Thank you for publishing information about red tide. This has been going on for several weeks not just this last week. I live near the beach in Sarasota county. I feel so bad for tourists who come down with no idea that this is going on. It is not publicized or reported much. The signs alerting people are very inconspicuous. Many lodging properties and hotels do not tell their guests. We’ve also had closures due to bacteria in the water. It is bad enough that our state government is not proactive in solving this problem for all of us, but at least tell people what’s going on for safety reasons. Florida rambler is awesome. Thank you for all your publications! Susan