Florida red tide organisms detected at low levels in Gulf Coast samples

The organism responsible for Florida red tide was detected at background to very low concentrations in 11 samples collected along and offshore of the Gulf Coast, state wildlife officials said Friday.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Karenia brevis in samples from Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Collier counties.In Northwest Florida, the organism was found at background concentrations offshore of Bay County and in Gulf County.No Karenia brevis was detected in samples collected along Florida’s East Coast.FWC received no reports of fish kills or respiratory irritation suspected of being connected to red tide during the past week.Short-term forecasts from the University of South Florida and FWC predict northern movement of surface and subsurface waters across most areas from Pinellas County to northern Monroe County.Residents can review the latest sampling information through FWC’s red tide current status page. The agency updates its sampling map dai