© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Red tide is still being found at the mouth of Tampa Bay and Sarasota beaches

Map of red tide
karen.atwood
/
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Large concentrations of red tide are continuing to be found at the mouth of Tampa Bay and along Sarasota County beaches.

The toxin continues to be found in an arc ranging from Fort DeSoto to south of Venice, and into Lee and Charlotte counties.

Large concentrations of red tide are continuing to be found at the mouth of Tampa Bay and along Sarasota County beaches.

The latest survey by state environmental officials show red tide is still present in an area stretching from Fort DeSoto in Pinellas County to Anna Maria Island and Longboat Pass in Manatee County.

And medium levels of the toxin continue to be found in Sarasota Bay and beaches ranging from Longboat Key to Siesta Key to beaches south of Venice.

Fish kills connected to red tide have been reported this week in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Manatee County (Anna Maria Island Rod & Reel Pier, Coquina Beach, Longboat Key, Manatee Beach, South Skyway Rest Area) and in Sarasota County (Humphries Park, Lido Key Beach, Longboat Key, Manasota Key Beach, Nokomis Beach, Siesta Key Beach, Turtle Beach, Venice Beach and Venice North Jetty Beach).

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

Steve Newborn is a WUSF reporter and producer at WUSF covering environmental issues and politics in the Tampa Bay area.
You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.