Red Tide

Red tide is almost gone from the Pinellas beaches, but is getting worse in southern Sarasota County.

But red tide was reported for the first time this season off the Big Bend area in northern Florida.

Red tide is still hanging around beaches in central Pinellas County. And while it has retreated from most Sarasota beaches, it's still present in the south of the county.

Fish kills and respiratory irritation were reported in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Red tide is also increasing just to the south of Sarasota beaches, in Charlotte and Lee counties.

Problems remain south of Tampa Bay. Medium amounts of the toxin were found at Anna Maria Island and the Longboat Key boat ramp and low amounts at Lido Beach and New Pass Dock on Sarasota Bay.

Only one case of red tide was reported this past week in Sarasota Bay.

The outbreak of the harmful algal blooms has shown up in medium and high concentrations along the Gulf coast this month.

The Largo Intercoastal Marina was the only site in Pinellas reporting heavy concentrations of red tide.

Favorable wind and weather conditions are reducing red tide's effect on Clearwater Beach.