Health News Florida

Red Tide Blooms Have Now Reached Pasco County

WUSF | By Jessica Meszaros

Published June 25, 2021 at 7:19 AM EDT

Toxic red tide blooms are continuing to cause fish kills and respiratory issues along Florida's west coast.

State wildlife officials say in their midweek report that toxic red tide blooms, which originally started in Southwest Florida, continue to spread north.

The red tide blooms persisting along Florida's Gulf coast have now reached Pasco County, north of Tampa Bay.

The bloom is located near Anclote River Park Beach, according to the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Wednesday that the toxic algae remains at bloom-levels in the waters of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Charlotte counties, as well.

Sarasota County has just low concentrations of the red tide organism Karenia brevis, along with Lee and Collier counties.

Over the past week, fish kills suspected to be red tide-related were documented in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough, including at MacDill Air Force Base, according to a release.

Respiratory irritation was also recorded in Pinellas and Sarasota.