ANNA MARIA ISLAND – No red tide is predicted for Manatee County waters through Monday, Feb. 11, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Manatee County waters were clear of the toxic algae and no red tide-related fish kills were reported locally over the past week.
However, respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County, according to the report. Red tide can be carried by winds to areas where the water is clear of the algae.
Statewide, background concentrations were found in four water samples in Southwest Florida, where the bloom began in October 2017.
Red tide has been in Anna Maria Island waters on and off since Aug. 3.
Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people.
Scientists say that salinity, currents, temperature and light play a part in the formation of blooms, as do nutrients from Florida’s natural phosphate deposits, the Loop Current, which brings Caribbean seawater to Florida’s west coast, the Mississippi River, iron-rich Saharan dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida’s waters, and fertilizer and animal waste runoff.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – No red tide is predicted in Anna Maria Island waters through Monday, Jan. 28, and area waters remained clear of red tide last week, according to today’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report.
NOAA predicts low to very low red tide-related respiratory irritation in Manatee County through Monday.
No red tide was found in water samples at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, the Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach or Palma Sola Bay as of Jan. 22, according to the FWC. However, three red tide-related fish kills were reported in Manatee County over the past week, one at the Anna Maria City Pier.
Respiratory irritation was reported on Jan. 17 and Jan. 19-20 at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and Jan. 20-21 and Jan. 23 at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, according to the FWC.
Blooms of Florida red tide can be patchy, with varying concentrations of the toxin it produces, causing effects to be noticeable on one beach but not on a nearby beach.
The bloom, which is now affecting Collier County to the south, began in Southwest Florida in October 2017 and arrived in Anna Maria Island waters on Aug. 3.
Wildlife impacts
Since the bloom began in 2017, red tide has caused 589 sea turtle deaths, according to the FWC.
Of the 824 manatees that died in Florida waters in 2018, 132 of them were caused by red tide, including 10 from Manatee County, with six of those discovered around Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, the FWC reports. An additional 79 manatee deaths are suspected to have been caused by red tide, for a total of 211 probable red tide deaths, more than from watercraft (121 deaths) last year.
As of Dec. 20, 2018, 127 dolphins had died from red tide in Florida waters, according to NOAA, which stopped tracking dolphin mortality during the federal government shutdown that was suspended today.
Causes
Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people.
Scientists say that salinity, currents, temperature and light play a part in the formation of red tide blooms, in addition to:
nutrient runoff from Florida’s natural phosphate deposits
nutrients from the Loop Current, which brings Caribbean seawater to Florida’s west coast
natural and man-made nutrients that travel down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico
nutrients from iron-rich Saharan dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida’s waters
nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and animal waste.
TALLAHASSEE – It’s official: Gov. Ron DeSantis has retracted Aqua by the Bay developer Carlos Beruff’s recent appointment to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
On Friday, Jan. 18, DeSantis retracted 46 appointments that departing Gov. Rick Scott made on Jan. 4 and Jan. 7, and Beruff’s FWC appointment was among those retracted.
The retracted appointments apply only to those whose appointments require confirmation by the Florida Senate, and it’s still possible that Beruff could be reappointed. DeSantis also retracted Joshua Kellum’s FWC appointment.
FWC commissioners serve five-year terms and enact rules and regulations regarding the state’s fish and wildlife resources.
On Friday, DeSantis sent a letter to Florida Senate President Bill Galvano informing him of his decision.
“I agree many of these individuals are outstanding citizens who are experts in their respected fields. I thank these individuals for their willingness to serve our state. They will be afforded every consideration as my office re-opens the application process to fill these critical appointment vacancies,” DeSantis’ letter said.
DeSantis also retracted Mark Goodson’s appointment to the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota District Board of Trustees.
Additional retractions of Scott appointments include appointees to the Board of Governors to the State University System, the Board of Medicine, the Board of Veterinary Medicine, the Construction Industry Licensing Board, the Florida Citrus Commission, the Florida Real Estate Commission, the Florida Transportation Commission and more.
Beruff opposition
In late 2017, Manatee County Commissioners approved the Aqua by the Bay development plans that call for the construction of up to 16 95-foot-tall condo buildings, an unspecified number of buildings between 36 and 75 feet tall and a total of 2,894 residential units.
The approved development plans also include 78,000 square feet of commercial space and a man-made crystal lagoon, and there are references to private docks. The proposed 20-year construction project is to take place on a large piece of vacant land located between Sarasota Bay and the El Conquistador Parkway in Manatee County.
As of this afternoon, more than 7,700 people had signed a Change.org petition opposing Beruff’s FWC appointment.
“The appointment of a developer with a track record of putting profit over protection of the environment is unconscionable,” according to the petition, created by Naples resident Michelle Eddleman McCormick.
Anna Maria City Commissioner Carol Carter is among those who signed the petition.
Some who opposed Beruff’s appointment cited the Aqua by the Bay development.
“I believe that this is a conflict of interest seeing as he is attempting to destroy our shoreline to build the Aqua by the Bay development,” Shaun Reilly wrote when signing the petition.
“He has and is destroying wildlife nurseries around Florida, i.e. Aqua by the Bay,” Robert Kinney wrote when signing the petition.
“This man is not an environmentalist and conservationist who cares about wildlife. Please replace him with someone who has a track record of protecting Florida’s natural resources, our water, wetlands, rural areas and wildlife,” Pat Lindsey wrote.
“Talk about a fox guarding the hen house,” Tammy Johnson wrote.
At a press conference Jan. 10 at Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida’s new Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, announced some sweeping changes to the way his administration will handle Florida’s mounting water crisis.
The actions announced in the first two days of his term have been heralded by anglers, environmentalists and many Democrats. In an executive order signed that same day, DeSantis indicated he would be expanding efforts by increasing environmental funding, relying on sound science and pushing for quick action on Everglades area restoration.
In another action, he requested the resignation of the entire South Florida Water Management District board.
The specifics of the order call for $2.5 billion over the next four years for Everglades restoration and water resource protection, a $1 billion increase over what was spent the prior four years. Other key features include the creation of the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency and the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, both within the Department of Environmental Protection.
I think it’s important to applaud the governor for these long overdue actions while keeping a close eye on what follows with the Republican-controlled Legislature that has been closely aligned with agricultural interests that have been blamed for much of the runoff that may be fueling both the red tide and blue-green algae.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces his resolve to follow through with his campaign promise to address Florida’s water crisis. He is flanked by, from left, Mote’s Dr. Michael Crosby and Hell’s Bay Boat Company owner Chris Peterson. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
My main concern is the apparent change of course for a politician who, as a senator, consistently voted against sound environmental policy. True, DeSantis made the environment of Florida and the much-publicized red tide and blue-green algae threat the centerpiece of his campaign and is apparently following through with that promise. Looking for a valid explanation one doesn’t have to go too far. While all red tides are bad for businesses on Florida’s west coast (and occasionally the east coast), this episode finally got the attention it deserves as influential businesses, including developers, real estate agents and the $82 billion-dollar tourist industry felt the impact. While these actions are long overdue and the right thing to do, it’s also a wise political move.
I’ve fished local waters since the early 80s and have seen firsthand the slow but steady decline of many of our fisheries. True, there have been some bright spots as local governments have worked to control storm and sewage releases, and groups like the Coastal Conservation Association have lobbied for change.
But a look at Florida’s history really brings home the extent of what we’re losing and what has been lost. This past year, books I’ve read have helped me see the place where I’ve lived for four decades with new eyes. Jack Davis’ “Gulf, The Making of An American Sea,” Michael Grundwald’s “The Swamp, The Everglades, Florida, and The Politics of Paradise” and “A Land Remembered” by Patrick D. Smith, showed me a once-resplendent Florida that few can imagine.
It’s an age-old problem as people have come to Florida over the decades and are enchanted by its natural beauty. Compared to other more compromised areas of the country some see no problem in sacrificing a few mangroves and natural habitat in the name of progress. When we have lived here for a while, we begin to see the effects of this gradual compromise as new residents arrive not having that same experience.
It’s unfortunate that the environment had to get to the condition it’s in to effect change, but maybe this time will be different. All Floridians should applaud the governor and support him in efforts to protect our water, air and natural assets. We should also be vigilant and hold our politicians to the task of protecting our most valuable assets. Stay tuned!
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A NOAA scientist’s prediction that recent storms gave red tide a fatal beating appears to be coming true just in time for high tourist season.
For the first time in 14 months, no red tide is predicted in Southwest Florida in today’s three-day forecast by the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
Another first – red tide was not found in any water samples collected last week in Florida waters except for one in Manatee County, a background concentration at the Palma Sola Bay bridge, according to today’s FWC report.
Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects on people or marine life.
NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf told The Sun last week that the Dec. 20-21 storm would likely break up the bloom that began in Southwest Florida in October 2017 and arrived in Anna Maria Island waters on Aug. 3. The bloom rivaled one in 2005-06 that lasted 14 months.
Red tide cells crippled by winds gusting to 50 mph and waves cresting at 10 feet would be unable to swim toward nutrients, he predicted, saying, “If we have a normal winter this year, this will be the end of the bloom.”
No fish kills were reported in Manatee County last week, but respiratory irritation was reported on Dec. 21 and Dec. 25-26 at Manatee Beach, according to the FWC.
Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people.
Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Very low levels cause possible respiratory irritation. Low levels cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels cause all of the above, plus water discoloration.
LONGBOAT KEY – Coyotes walking down the beaches and roads of Florida’s barrier islands should not surprise residents or tourists, according to state wildlife officials.
Coyotes are true Florida natives, with fossilized evidence that they lived in Florida before the Ice Age, Angeline Scotten, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), told Longboat Key residents on Monday.
With the recent appearance of coyotes on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island, Scotten offered some time-tested tips on living with them, and some perspective on what can be contentious “love them” or “kill them” debates.
Coyotes are not going away, Scotten said. For generations, they have been hunted from helicopters, strangled in snares and trapped in metal jaws, only to reproduce at higher rates when their numbers fall, a unique characteristic of the species.
“Eradication efforts have dramatically failed,” she said.
They are in all 67 counties in the state, including islands. Coyotes are strong swimmers; one was photographed swimming across a channel, she said. They also walk across bridges.
Coyote prints, lower left
To understand a coyote, know that they’re smart. They learn fast. Much like alligators, once coyotes learn that people will feed them, they will become nuisances, Scotten said.
Hence, rule number one – DO NOT FEED COYOTES.
It’s actually illegal, she said. Don’t leave pet food outside. Cover garbage cans. Pick up fallen fruit. You are not doing them a favor, you are making them lose their fear of people – the best weapon people have to coexist with coyotes, she said.
Coyotes eat almost anything, including vegetation, insects, fish, birds, nuts and berries. Examinations of coyote stomach contents show they eat dog food, cooked chicken, McDonalds wrappers and candy wrappers. They also eat mice and roaches, she said, adding, “If that’s all they ate, that would be great.”
Coyotes would undoubtedly eat sea turtle and shorebird eggs, but they also may be indirectly protecting them, Scotten said.
Coyotes control small predators like raccoons, which prey on turtle and bird nests, she said.
Florida has been without a mid-level, coyote-sized predator for almost 100 years, since the red wolf left the state, she said, leading some scientists to believe that coyotes are keeping the ecosystem balanced.
“We will take no preventive measures against coyotes,” said Suzi Fox, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, who attended the presentation. “They are all wild animals and they will have to work it out.”
But coyotes also eat domestic cats and dogs.
Therefore, rule number two – RESTRAIN AND REMAIN WITH PETS.
Do not allow pet cats to “free range,” or roam, Scotten said. It is against the law in many communities, and an invitation to coyotes. Keep dogs on a short, 6-foot leash – no retractable leashes – or in a secure, fenced-in yard. And don’t leave your pet unattended, as most coyote attacks on pets occur when people are not around, she said, adding these tips also will protect pets from other wildlife, including alligator, bobcat, bear and panther.
People sometimes report seeing 70-pound coyotes, Scotten said, adding, “Call me, I want to see that.” Florida coyotes are mostly 25-30 pounds, with a very few reaching 40 pounds.
People erroneously think coyotes are diseased when they see them walking in the daytime, she said. They can carry the same diseases that dogs are vaccinated against, but not necessarily. In the last 20 years, only one coyote in the U.S. was confirmed to have rabies, she said.
People report seeing packs of coyotes, fearful of being attacked, she said. Coyotes live with their families, not unrelated packs. They mate for life and are monogamous, often traveling together as human families do, with both parents caring for 6-12 pups in a litter, she said.
Attacks by coyotes on people are “exceedingly rare,” with 3.5 per year in the U.S., and two fatalities in 46 years; one, a child killed by a coyote that was being hand fed, she said. By comparison, dogs caused 181 fatalities in the four years from 2013-17, and dog bites result in about 1,000 emergency room visits a day nationwide.
Still, “People run from coyotes,” Scotten said. “That’s what they want.”
Rule number three – DO NOT RUN.
A coyote will chase you, she said, adding, “It’s their instinct.” If you have a child or small dog, pick it up and follow rule number four.
Rule number four – HAZE IT.
Use your voice, sticks, whistles, pots and pans, water pistols, bear spray, car horns, air horns, shake a can with pennies inside. Haze it until you no longer see it. If it turns around and looks at you, haze it again until it leaves. It may regain its fear of people, Scotten said.
If a coyote becomes a nuisance, property owners are allowed to remove it without a license, she said, but shooting is not allowed in many communities. Coyotes cannot be relocated under state law except to be humanely euthanized. Coyotes are too smart for cages. Setting a noose snare would choke a coyote to death in about three minutes, but will do the same for the neighbor’s cat. Steel traps that clamp on legs require an FWC permit, but if you catch the neighbor’s dog or an angry bobcat, “What are you going to do?”
Rule number five – COEXIST WITH COYOTES. The best approach is to try to avoid problems with coyotes, using the information above, she said.
If you see a coyote and are concerned, call law enforcement – Longboat Key police are keeping a log of coyote sightings – or call the wildlife alert hotline, 888-404-3922.
“Coyotes are just trying to survive, just like any other animal in a really tough environment,” Scotten said. “They have learned in western states to live with them, and we can too.”
Beachgoers’ concerns about shoreline shark fishing have prompted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to consider tightening shark fishing rules at its February hearing.
Proposed changes include prohibiting chumming for sharks from beaches, requiring a free, annual shore-based shark fishing permit necessitating online education, and requiring the use of non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks when fishing from shore or a vessel.
The FWC gave preliminary approval to the proposals last week based on input from public workshops around the state last summer, with a goal of maximizing the survival of released sharks and minimizing public safety concerns.
“Increased public interest in shark conservation combined with growing human use of coastal areas and increasing attention surrounding shore-based shark fishing has led to increasing public concerns about shark mortality and disagreements about the compatibility of shore-based shark fishing and other shore-based recreational activities,” FWC Director of Marine Fisheries Management Jessica McCawley wrote in a memo on the draft rule.
Shark fishing on Anna Maria Island’s beaches draws crowds and criticism. – Cindy Lane | Sun
A common concern of beachgoers is that shoreline shark fishing draws sharks to nearshore waters where people are swimming, but “sharks regularly inhabit and feed in nearshore water and there is no credible evidence that fishing increases the likelihood of a shark bite occurring in nearby waters,” according to a presentation made to the commission about the proposed rules last week in St. Augustine.
FWC draft rule proposal on chumming
68B-2.011 Chumming.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to place chum in the water for the purposes of fishing from a beach or wade fishing in waters immediately adjacent to a beach. This shall not be construed to prohibit the use of a baited hook when fishing with hook and line gear, placing bait in a trap authorized pursuant to 68B-4.020 in order to target marine organisms by enticing them to enter the trap, or the use of a baited trotline for the harvest of blue crab.
(2) For the purposes of this rule, “chum” means fish, fish parts, other animal products, or synthetic products created or intended to chemically or otherwise resemble animal products placed in the water for the purpose of attracting a marine organism.
(3) For the purposes of this rule, “beach” shall be defined as any area of shoreline along a body of marine or brackish water that is covered predominantly in sand, with sufficient sand above the mean high-water line to support sunbathing.
Under the rule, any person fishing from shore and using one of the following gears or fishing methods would be considered a shore-based shark angler regardless of the species targeted – using a fighting belt or harness, using a metal leader longer than four feet in length or deploying bait by any means other than casting (such as kayaking out a bait).
The rule also would prohibit delaying the release of prohibited shark species for any reason other than removing the hook or cutting the hook or line, and require that prohibited sharks remain in the water as much as practical while ensuring the safety of anglers.
“Post-release shark mortality in the shore-based fishery can be caused by stress on the animal from lengthy fight times that sometimes occur when bringing the shark to shore, which can disproportionately affect some species, including the great hammerhead,” according to the presentation. “Another potential cause of post-release mortality is injury to a shark’s internal organs which may be caused by bringing large sharks out of the water or damage to gills as a result of being exposed to air.”
I don’t have to remind anyone of the devastation the red tide wrought in our bays and Gulf. Images of dumpsters stuffed with fish, dead dolphins, manatees and sea turtles have filled the news and been displayed across social media for the last four months.
What we don’t see and what as yet may prove to be the most damaging aspect is the death and dieback of seagrasses. These underwater ecosystems have been referred to as the rainforests of the sea and function to support the marine environment in numerous ways. Most importantly, perhaps, is their importance to water quality.
“Seagrasses help trap fine sediments and particles that are suspended in the water column, which increases water clarity. When a seafloor area lacks seagrass communities, the sediments are more frequently stirred by wind and waves, decreasing water clarity, affecting marine animal behavior, and generally decreasing the recreational quality of coastal areas.
Seagrasses also work to filter nutrients that come from land-based industrial discharge and stormwater runoff before these nutrients are washed out to sea and to other sensitive habitats such as coral reefs,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Seagrasses unlike much of our sea life are mostly hidden from view. Unfortunately, the old adage, “Out of sight out of mind” might apply here. Just last week, I took my boat out to see first-hand the condition of local seagrasses. What I saw at once encouraged me and gave me pause. I am no scientist and this information is, of course, anecdotal, but from the Sister Keys south to Long Bar in mid-Sarasota Bay, I found large areas of bottom previously covered in grass that were essentially bare. Other areas did have full grass coverage but to my eye looked considerably less vibrant.
The good news is that this grass will recover, and the bare areas probably have living roots that will regenerate when the waters clear and they can properly photosynthesize. Unfortunately, the current condition when extrapolated bay wide portends a marine environment that will be much less productive.
The current condition of the bay and Gulf is undeniably impaired and should be a call to action to all who live near and appreciate this magical resource. Fortunately, the natural world is incredibly resilient and with our help can regenerate. If you’re looking for a bright spot and an opportunity to help, you don’t have to go far. Sarasota Bay Watch, known for its scallop restoration is now reseeding clams, another dynamic water filterer into Sarasota Bay.
The non-profit will have released close to a quarter million southern hard-shell clams into Sarasota Bay by years end and has ambitious plans for planting a million in 2019. Its efforts were embraced by the public and volunteers community-wide, including corporate partners like Gettel Toyota and Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.
This is what SBW co-president Larry Stults calls “proof of concept” anchored by the fact that its clams survived the current red tide. When you consider that clams can filter close to 50 gallons of water a day and live for 30 years the positive impact of the project is clear. We can make help make that possible. For every dollar donated to Sarasota Bay Watch, it will plant 10 clams in Sarasota Bay. That’s 50 gallons of water a day for just the first year or 18,300 gallons of water. Not bad for a $1 investment. To become involved, visit the organization’s website.
Medium levels of patchy red tide are predicted through at least Monday, Nov. 19 around Anna Maria Island, with high levels to the north and south of the Island, according to the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
The Nov. 16 FWC report shows medium concentrations of red tide in water samples collected on Nov. 13 in the Gulf of Mexico at Longboat Pass boat ramp in Sarasota Bay, Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach, the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria, School Key and Mead Point in lower Tampa Bay and at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.
Fish kills also were reported in Manatee County over the past week.
Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Low levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels can cause all of the above, plus water discoloration.
Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases.
The toxic algae bloom has been spreading in the southwest Gulf of Mexico for the past year, reaching Anna Maria Island in early August. It was detected in Florida’s east coast waters in October.
High levels of red tide are forecast through at least Monday, Nov. 12 in waters around Anna Maria Island, according to the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
The Nov. 9 report shows high concentrations of red tide in water samples collected on Nov. 5 in the Gulf of Mexico at Longboat Pass boat ramp in Sarasota Bay, with medium concentrations at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach, the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria and at School Key in lower Tampa Bay. No red tide was found at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.
Respiratory irritation was reported on Oct. 31, Nov. 2-3, Nov. 5-7 at Coquina Beach (Bradenton Beach) and Oct. 31, Nov. 3 and Nov. 5-8 at Manatee Beach (Holmes Beach).
Fish kills also were reported in Manatee County over the past week.
Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Low levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels can cause all of the above, plus water discoloration.
Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases.
The toxic algae bloom has been spreading in the southwest Gulf of Mexico for the past year, reaching Anna Maria Island in early August. It was detected in Florida’s east coast waters in October.
High levels of red tide are back in the air and water around Anna Maria Island, and forecasters predict high levels will continue through Monday, Oct. 29, according to today’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report.
The red tide forecast through Monday, Oct. 29 is mostly high for Anna Maria Island. – University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.
Between 5 percent and 25 percent more water samples showed medium or high levels of red tide than the previous week, according to the Oct. 26 report, which shows high concentrations of red tide in water samples collected on Oct. 22 at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach, and medium concentrations at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria and Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach.
Respiratory irritation was reported Oct. 18-23 and Oct. 25 at Coquina Beach (Bradenton Beach) and Oct. 18, Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 23-25 at Manatee Beach (Holmes Beach).
Fish kills also were reported in Manatee County over the previous week.
Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Low levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels can cause all of the above, plus water discoloration.
Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases.
The toxic algae bloom has been spreading in the southwest Gulf of Mexico for the past year, reaching Anna Maria Island in early August. It was detected in Florida’s east coast waters early this month.
The Nov. 16 FWC report shows medium concentrations of red tide in water samples collected on Nov. 13 in the Gulf of Mexico at Longboat Pass boat ramp in Sarasota Bay, Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach, the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria, School Key and Mead Point in lower Tampa Bay and at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.
