Sarasota Beaches Still Affected By Red Tide: FWC

SARASOTA, FL - Sarasota area beaches are still being affected by red tide, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The FWC reports that a patchy bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida.

Over the past week, red tide was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Pinellas County, background to low concentrations in five samples collected from Manatee County and low to high concentrations in 24 samples collected from Sarasota County, according to a FWC report released Wednesday.

Over the past week, fish kills were reported in Southwest Florida in Sarasota County (Casey Key, Caspersen Beach, Crescent Beach, Lido Key, Little Sarasota Bay, Manasota Beach, Nokomis Beach, Service Beach, Siesta Key, Venice Beach, Venice North Jetty), Charlotte County (Gasparilla Sound), Lee County (Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island Range Lighthouse, Little Gasparilla Pass), and Collier County (Factory Bay). Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Manatee (6/15 at Coquina Beach), Sarasota (6/14-6/15, 6/19 at Lido Key; 6/16 and 6/19-6/20 at Manasota Beach; 6/15-6/19 at Nokomis; 6/13, 6/15-6/17 and 6/20 at Siesta Key; 6/13-6/17 and 6/19-6/20 at Venice Beach, 6/15-6/20 at Venice North Jetty).

Mote Marine Laboratory's Beach Conditions Reporting System showed intense respiratory irritation from red tide at Manasota Beach and moderate irritation reported at Venice North Jetty, Siesta Key, Nokomis, Venice Beach and Gasparilla Island Range Light (Boca Grande). Many dead fish were found at Venice North Jetty, Manasota Beach, Nokomis and Gasparilla Island.

Image via Shutterstock