Red tide status in Sarasota, Manatee counties

The map below lists current data on the presence of Karenia brevis, the organism that creates algae blooms known as red tide; the amount dead fish; and the respiratory irritation level at beaches across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Click the top left button in the map below to view the sidebar, to select layers for each data category or to go to a specific location. Each data point lists the date the status was last updated. View the map in a separate tab here.

The Karenia brevis status for locations across Sarasota and Manatee counties as listed in the map are from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Per the FWC: "These data represent the most recent eight (8) days of sampling location points for Karenia brevis, the phytoplankton that causes red tide, in Florida. These data are exported daily at 4:45 PM Eastern Time from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Harmful Algal Bloom Database, which provides information on the presence (as a categorical abundance) and absence of Karenia brevis. While every practical step has been taken to provide accurate data, the need for rapid distribution precludes extensive review and data subsequently undergoes an extensive proofing process, so this should not be considered a final dataset. This data represents routine monitoring, event response, opportunistic and research-driven sampling by FWC-FWRI and our partners including community scientists." Visit MyFWC.com for the FWC-FWRI map.

The dead fish and respiratory irritation levels are from Mote Marine and Aquarium and updated daily. Visit VisitBeaches.org/map for Mote's general beach status reports and community science reports.

The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System provides a forecast for respiratory irritation due to red tide in the region. The map is available at habforecast.gcoos.org.

Read more about red tide in Sarasota and Manatee counties here.