Researchers on red tide watch along the Suncoast
Red tide conditions and research By Justin Hobbs | March 2, 2021 at 7:28 PM EST - Updated March 3 at 6:01 AM
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - While there have been no reported major red tide blooms in the waters off of Manatee and Sarasota counties this year, red tide has been detected south of us in Lee and Collier counties.
A recent low-level concentration of the toxic algae was found in Gasparilla and Boca Grande Pass, however the overall levels are at an average point and have decreased in the last month.
Scientists at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium are conducting a five-year study of red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s all part of their National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Association funded project. As part of their research, Mote scientists are investigating why certain seasons, like 2018, are worse than others. The marine researchers are determining how physics, warmer temperatures, climate change, hurr
2020? Awful. But at least Florida hasnât had a major Red Tide
What do we have to thank? Ocean currents and . maybe hurricanes?
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A shrimp boat contracted by Pinellas County in September 2018 collected dead fish amid Red Tide off Madeira Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Tampa Bay Times ]
Well, mostly.
The state made it through late summer and most of fall before scientists in the last couple of weeks started tracking a bloom off the southwest shore. As of Dec. 10, a patchy blotch of Red Tide was sitting off Sanibel Island. It has not produced widespread fish kills but has led to reports of people experiencing respiratory irritation in Collier County, though nothing like the crippling Red Tide of 2018.