The Karenia brevis bloom

October 29, 2011

The Karenia brevis bloom, first reported last month in southwest Florida, currently extends offshore of Sanibel Island (Lee County). Medium to low concentrations of K. brevis were measured within the bloom patch, which has been approximated with the use of satellite images to be 25 miles long and 15 miles wide. Measurements from one autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) deployed by Mote Marine Laboratory and USF's College of Marine Science also confirmed the patchy offshore distribution of K. brevis. In locations outside of the bloom, K. brevis was not present or was present only at low concentrations. The presence of K. brevis has been confirmed in Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor (Lee County), although concentrations in those locations were low.

Karenia brevis was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and Collier counties or offshore of Monroe County.

Bloom Boundary:This week, Karenia brevis abundance was greatest offshore of southern Sanibel Island (Lee County). Widespread fish kills have been associated with this bloom and respiratory irritation is possible in and around the bloom areas.

Tables and maps at: http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/statewide/