Tampa Bay Red Tide Conditions Improving

Red tide concentration levels are down in several Tampa Bay area counties where the organism has created some problems as of late. Image via Shutterstock

BRADENTON, FL — Tampa Bay area beachgoers can breathe a little easier. The red tide bloom that has wreaked havoc along portions of the region’s coastline is waning in concentration.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, samples taken offshore of several bay area counties over the past week only showed background to low concentrations of Karenia brevis, the organism that causes Florida red tide.

Two samples of water taken offshore of Pinellas County showed background concentrations of the organism. Four samples from Manatee County also showed background levels. In Sarasota County, 22 samples showed background to low levels, FWC noted in its Red Tide Status report.

While fish kills and respiratory irritations had been reported over the past few weeks in Pinellas County and elsewhere, that was not the case last week, FWC said.

Red tide is an algae that occurs naturally in the Gulf that can cause respiratory irritations when it accumulates in large amounts. Toxins in red tide can “enter the air and cause respiratory irritation among beachgoers, such as coughing, sneezing or a scratchy throat,” the Mote Marine Laboratory explains on its website. Mote scientists conduct year-round monitoring of Bay area waters.

Beachgoers with respiratory conditions, such as emphysema and asthma, may be more susceptible to red tide irritants. FWC recommends these public health tips when red tide is present:

• People who experience issues, such as nose, throat and eye irritations may want to leave the immediate area
• Those with severe or chronic respiratory conditions should avoid areas that are known to have active red tide
• When dead fish are present alongshore, it is advised that beachgoers avoid swimming in the water
• Red tide may also pose a risk to pets. Pets should not eat fish or drink water from water with a high concentration of red tide
• Recreational harvesting of such mollusks as hard clams, mussels and oysters is banned when red tide is present. To find out if harvest of shellfish is available in an area, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture online.

To find out the conditions on local beaches, check out Mote Marine’s online tracking tool. To find out more about red tide and its presence in Florida, visit FWC online.