SARASOTA — The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County issued a health alert for the presence of red tide at several area beaches Wednesday.
Beaches in the alert include: Manasota Key in Englewood, Venice Beach; Service Club Beach, Venice Fishing Pier, Brohard Park Beach, all in Venice; and North Jetty and Nokomis Beach on Casey Key in Nokomis, as well as Siesta Key and other beaches in Sarasota.
The alert was issued following water testing that was done in the Gulf of Mexico and inlets Tuesday with results announced Wesnesday by Florida Fish & Wildlife scientists.
The beaches listed in the alert showed medium or low presence of the red-tide causing bacteria, Karenia brevis. None of this week’s samples showed high counts.
Other areas that showed some presence of red tide include Stump Pass (medium) and Little Gasparilla Pass (low) in Charlotte County and Boca Grande Pass (low) in Lee County.
No samples were taken at Englewood Beach or Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key; those beaches are both closed due to hurricane damage.