Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sampling found the first bloom-level red tide concentrations of the season in St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County, according to the agency’s Oct. 23 status update.
The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 12 samples collected along Florida’s Gulf Coast during the prior week. Two St. Joseph Bay samples reached bloom concentrations, defined by FWC as more than 100,000 cells per liter.
In Northwest Florida, the organism was found at background levels in Bay County and at low to medium concentrations in Gulf County. FWC said fish kills suspected to be related to red tide and respiratory irritation were reported in the St. Joseph Bay area during the week covered by the update.
Elsewhere, Karenia brevis was observed offshore of Lee County at background concentrations. No detections were reported along Florida’s East Coast.
Short-term forecasts from the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides indicated generally southern to southeastern movement of surface and subsurface waters from Pinellas County to northern Monroe County. FWC said its next status report is scheduled for Oct. 30; the agency also directs residents and visitors to its daily sampling map for updated conditions.
