BRADENTON – A patchy bloom of Karenia brevis (red tide), persists along Florida’s Gulf coast, where cells were detected in 122 samples over the past week, including medium concentrations in Manatee County.
Background to medium concentrations were found in Manatee County in 24 samples, and background to high concentrations were found in and offshore of Sarasota County in 27 samples. Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported in both locations.
Environmental activists suspect that the discharge of hundreds of millions of gallons of nitrogen-rich wastewater from the recent disaster at Piney Point into Tampa Bay and the persistent algal blooms in the months since are closely related.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says it is working closely with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other partners on the Piney Point response effort. Status updates and results are posted on the Protecting Florida Together website and on the Tampa Bay Estuary Program website.
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