Red tide bloom persists in eastern Gulf of Mexico

A large offshore bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, has been detected this month in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show the bloom is located approximately 10-15 miles offshore between Dixie and Pasco counties and 5-10 miles offshore of northern Pinellas County in northwest and southwest Florida. FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline has received numerous reports of a widespread fish kill and respiratory irritation has been reported in the red tide area.

Forecasts by the Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show surface water movement proceeding slightly south for the next several days. No bloom concentrations of red tide have been detected alongshore or inshore of any of the areas sampled.

A full status report will be provided this Friday, August 29, 2014.

Information provided by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)