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Red tide continues to bedevil Florida's Gulf coast beaches

 Map of red tide over the past week
Map of red tide over the past week

A report released Friday shows that red tide continues to creep northward along Florida's Gulf Coast, clear up the Florida Panhandle to Navarre Pier, near Pensacola.

A report released Friday by the state environmental regulators shows medium to high concentrations of red tide blooms up and down Florida's Gulf coast.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said high concentrations were reported at Madeira Beach and Redington Beach in Pinellas County; with medium concentrations at Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, John's Pass, Pass-a-Grille Beach and Fort De Soto.

In Manatee County, high concentrations were found at Bradenton Beach; with medium concentrations around the Sunshine Skyway, Anna Maria Island; Longboat Pass and off Atlas Street.

Sarasota County saw high concentrations at Lido Beach, Siesta Beach, Turtle Beach, Nokomis, Manasota Beach and Blind Pass Beach. Medium concentrations were found around St. Armand's Key and Venice Beach.

Red tide continues to creep northward along the Gulf coast. Medium and lower concentrations this week were reported off Levy County; around the mouth of Apalachicola Bay; Panama City; and clear up the Florida Panhandle to Navarre Pier, near Pensacola.

Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported off Levy, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Respiratory irritation was reported off Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Copyright 2021 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Steve Newborn is WUSF's assistant news director as well as a reporter and producer at WUSF covering environmental issues and politics in the Tampa Bay area.