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Red tide has been found at Fort De Soto and Anna Maria Island

Map of red tide
karen.atwood
/
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Map of red tide

Red tide has been slowing drifting north in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida.

Red tide is being found at Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County. Low concentrations are also across the mouth of Tampa Bay at Anna Maria Island.

And high concentrations of the marine organism are still around Sarasota Bay and areas south of Nokomis and Venice Beach.

The latest report from state health officials said fish kills believed to be caused by red tide were reported in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in those counties.

People with respiratory problems are being advised to avoid many beaches in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Map of red tide
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Map of red tide

Steve Newborn is a WUSF reporter and producer at WUSF covering environmental issues and politics in the Tampa Bay area.
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