Red tide impact on Madeira Beach

Currently, a bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, is present in Southwest Florida, including Pinellas County. Please keep in mind that red tide is a natural event, which can last as little as a few weeks or longer than a year. Environmental conditions like salinity, temperature and winds affect the duration and intensity of blooms.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff and partners work to track blooms and disseminate information to the public. The FWC Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) staff collects and analyses water samples from marine systems in Florida year round. They also conduct research on the red tide to better understand its biology and identify potential mitigation solutions.

Our state-wide red tide status report is available every Friday evening on our FWRI Website. In addition, you can also call the red tide hotline at 866-300 9399 to hear a recording of the Friday status report.

More information - http://ian.umces.edu/pdfs/ian_brochure_393.pdf