Red Tide Status Reports, 03/26/2010

EAST COAST


Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore of Brevard County or offshore of Broward County.



NORTHWEST COAST

Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore of Escambia and Okaloosa counties. Samples collected late last week offshore of Okaloosa, Walton and Taylor counties also contained no K. brevis.



SOUTHWEST COAST

Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore between Pinellas and Collier counties. Samples collected late last week offshore of Sarasota County also contained no K. brevis. One sample collected late last week offshore of the Dry Tortugas (Florida Keys, Monroe County) contained background concentrations of K. brevis.



Southwest Coast Bloom Boundary: A localized bloom of K. brevis was detected last week offshore of Monroe County, on the northern side of the lower Florida Keys. No samples were taken in the area this week.



Tables and maps of sample results are attached. This information is also available on our Web site: (http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=9670). The Web site also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Aquatic Toxins Hotline (for information or to report human health effects), and other wildlife related hotlines: (http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=9670#Links).