Red tide persists along Manatee, Pinellas counties

A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists along Pinellas and Manatee counties in Southwest Florida.

Fish kills and respiratory irritation were reported over the past week at multiple Pinellas County coastal beaches. The most recent reports of respiratory irritation were from Redington Beach, according to the Florida Wildlife Commission.

Fish kills were also recently reported at Redington, Indian Shores, and Madeira Beaches (4/13), as well as several miles offshore of Madeira Beach (4/14).

Forecasts for Southwest Florida by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show net offshore movement of surface waters and southern onshore movement of bottom waters between Pinellas and Lee counties over the next three days.