State wildlife officials announced this week that bloom‑level concentrations of red tide have been detected in parts of Northwest Florida, specifically in Bay and Gulf counties. Over the past seven days, water samples collected across the Panhandle tested positive for the red tide organism Karenia brevis twenty times, with four samples reaching bloom concentrations—defined as more than 100,000 cells per liter.
Fish kills and public health update
Several suspected red tide‑related fish kills were reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish Kill Hotline and local partners in Bay and Gulf counties. Despite the elevated levels, state officials noted that no red tide‑related respiratory irritation was reported anywhere in Florida during the same period.
Testing results across the region
Beyond the confirmed blooms in Bay and Gulf counties, testing showed varying levels of the organism throughout Northwest Florida. Gulf County recorded readings ranging from very low to high, while Bay County saw background to medium levels. Further west, Walton County registered low concentrations, and Escambia County reported only background amounts.
In Southwest Florida, three samples—taken in Sarasota County and offshore waters near Pinellas and Collier counties—showed background concentrations of Karenia brevis. No signs of the organism were found in water testing along Florida’s East Coast.
Monitoring and forecasts
Researchers from the University of South Florida and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continue to monitor near‑shore and offshore conditions using satellite imagery, although recent heavy cloud cover has limited clear views of the bloom area.
Computer models from the USF‑FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides project that surface waters will move southeast from Okaloosa County down to Citrus County over the next three‑and‑a‑half days, while also shifting south‑west between Hernando and northern Monroe counties. Deeper subsurface currents along the Gulf Coast are expected to push primarily southeast from Walton County toward northern Monroe County.
What residents can do
For ongoing updates, the public can check NOAA’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast. The FWC plans to release its next red tide status report on Friday, November 20.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed, avoid contact with dead fish, and follow any health advisories issued by state agencies.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
