Red Tide: Fish Kills Reported in Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee Counties

SARASOTA, FL — The red tide bloom that has been causing fish kills and respiratory irritation in Sarasota and Manatee counties has made itself known in Pinellas County. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a report of a fish kill came in from St. Pete Beach over the past few days.

Florida’s Gulf Coast has been dealing with on-again, off-again red tide issues for a few weeks. Red tide, also known as Karena brevis, is a naturally occurring organism found in Gulf waters. When it accumulates in large amounts, it can kill fish and lead to respiratory irritation in people and animals.

Toxins in red tide can “enter the air and cause respiratory irritation among beachgoers, such as coughing, sneezing or a scratchy throat,” according to Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory. Mote scientists conduct year-round monitoring of Bay area waters.

Mote on Wednesday reported dead fish and respiratory irritations at most beaches in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

See also: Dead Fish, Respiratory Irritations Reported at Most Sarasota, Manatee County Beaches

“As of Tuesday evening, Mote’s Beach Conditions Reporting System has reported respiratory irritation and dead fish in all beaches in Sarasota and Manatee counties except for Manatee Beach,” Mote’s email said. “Venice North Jetty, Lido Beach, Venice Beach and Nokomis Beach reported slight respiratory irritation while Siesta Key and Coquina Beach reported moderate respiratory irritation and Manasota reported intense respiratory irritation. Nokomis Beach and Coquina reported some dead fish while the rest of the beaches reported heavy fish kills.”

On Friday, the FWC provided a larger picture of recent red tide activity in the region, including the fish kill at St. Pete Beach.

According to FWC, over the past week Karenia brevis was found in very low to high concentrations in nine water samples taken in Pinellas County. It was found in background to high concentrations from samples taken in Manatee County. In Sarasota County, 31 samples came back with concentrations that ranged from very low to high. Charlotte County had nine sample return with background to high concentrations while Lee County saw four samples test positive for background to medium concentrations.

The state did not sample water this week from Hillsborough County.

Florida red tide blooms, Mote noted, can be rather patchy. Beaches with background to high concentrations can be located in close proximity to one another. That means effects might be noticeable at one beach, but not at a nearby location.

Beachgoers with respiratory conditions, such as emphysema and asthma, may be more susceptible to red tide irritants. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 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 banded 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.

Map courtesy of FWC