TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission detected red tide organism K. brevis in several dozen samples along Florida’s Gulf coast this week, according to an update posted Wednesday.
Bloom concentrations, or concentrations of over 100,000 cells per liter, were detected in 21 samples, including one offshore of Pinellas County, two offshore of Manatee County and five offshore of Sarasota County.
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The Southwest Florida counties of Lee, Charlotte and Collier also saw higher concentrations of the organism.
Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC’s fish kill hotline in Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. Respiratory irritation was reported, also suspected to be related to red tide.
The next FWC red tide update will be released on Friday. Report fish kills to the FWC’s fish kill hotline at (800) 636-0511.
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