Red tide algae spotted in Bay County

BAY COUNTY — Officials detected red tide-producing organisms in Bay County last week, a recent report states.

According to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report, background concentrations of the toxic algae were recently observed in one sample in the county. The detection comes after a devastating red tide bloom hit Florida’s coastal waters in October 2017 before finally disappearing early this year.

Red tide is caused by an organism called Karenia brevis, which occurs naturally in the waters off Florida.

The report states that the algae was also recently observed in background concentrations in an offshore of Sarasota County and in or offshore of Charlotte County, Lee County and Collier County. The algae was not detected along the state’s east coast, the report states.

The report adds that there were no fish kills suspected to be related to red tide. However, respiratory irritation was reported in Lee County.

During the last two years, a large red tide bloom caused respiratory irritations in people and killed vast numbers of sea turtles, manatees, dolphins and fish. Conservation groups are working with officials to replenish fish stocks decimated by the red tide.

The next red tide status report is set for release on Friday.