Red tide diminished further off Island
The Florida Marine Research Institute has announced that water samples taken last week indicate low to no trace of red tide off Manatee County.
"Water samples detected Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, alongshore between Pinellas and southern Collier counties," the St. Petersburg-based institute reported. "Conditions in Pinellas, Manatee and Lee counties appear to be improving with concentrations ranging from not present to low."
The highest concentrations of the algae were found along the Sarasota County coast, with medium concentrations in southern Charlotte County and portions of Collier County, as well as a small patch in Pine Island Sound in Lee County.
Red tide is a naturally occurring algae that at times "blooms." During blooms, fish can die and the toxic aerosol can impact marine mammals and for humans cause respiratory distress. |
