Bloom levels of Red Tide have been found in water samples along the Pinellas County coast, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The agency said it has also received several reports of fish kills discovered in the county since Friday.
Red Tide was found in samples taken off Pass-a-Grille, Redington Beach, Redington Shores and Indian Shores.
The latest report includes five samples pulled Monday, according to the agency’s website. All indicated medium concentrations of the organism in Red Tide, which the commission says is enough to cause respiratory irritation and “probable fish kills.”
The state has received reports of fish kills in several areas, including St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach and Indian Rocks Beach since last Friday, according to the commission. While water samples are scientific tests, fish kills are typically reported through a hotline and are not always verified by scientists.
Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce president Robin Miller said she has not heard of any businesses experiencing problems because of Red Tide and the organization’s welcome centers has not received any calls from people asking about it. She said the chamber keeps track of Red Tide every year.
“At this very point day and time, there isn’t the high level of urgency and alert,” she said. “But we are monitoring it like everyone else.”
No public health advisories have been issued yet, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County said Wednesday, because the levels had “not been high enough to warrant alerts.” Last week the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County issued an advisory warning that people might experience respiratory irritation or see fish kills because of Red Tide in lower and middle Tampa Bay.
Monitoring near the Hillsborough-Manatee county line has shown bloom concentrations in several samples this month. That area is where 215 million gallons of wastewater were released in April from the old Piney Point fertilizer plant site.
The contaminated water contained high levels of nutrients, namely nitrogen that scientists said could provide fuel for a bloom, if Red Tide were to show up in Tampa Bay after the discharge.
Last week, the state said fish kills “suspected to be related to Red Tide” had been reported in Pinellas and in Manatee, along with respiratory irritation in Pinellas. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which has been leading the response to Piney Point, said late Friday that wildlife officials were “investigating reports of fish kills in Boca Ciega, Pass-a-Grille and St. Pete Beach.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks anyone who sees a fish kill to report it at 800-636-0511. For more information on the status of Red Tide, visit the agency’s website.
June 09, 2021 at 08:37AM
https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2021/06/09/red-tide-reported-off-pinellas-county-beaches/
Red Tide reported off Pinellas County beaches - Tampa Bay Times
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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