Our Gulf Environment


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Red Tide Sampling
Beginning in January 2006, the Sarasota County Health Department, working jointly with Mote Marine Laboratory, conducts weekly red tide (Karenia brevis) cell counts to monitor red tide on our county beaches.

  • The Department of Health will notify beach goers of red tide conditions and update beach status during a bloom event.

 Frequently Asked Questions about Red Tide

 Map of Beach Sample Sites

Sampling Note: Samples are typically taken on Mondays with results available and updated by Wednesdays. Sampling and results may be delayed due to severe weather or holidays.

Sarasota County Health Department
Healthy Beaches Program





Name

Date

K Brev.

Quality

Longboat Key

11/16/09

<1

Present

Ringling Causeway

11/16/09

<1

 Present

North Lido Beach

11/16/09

<1

Present

Lido Casino

11/16/09

<1

Present

South Lido Park 

11/16/09

<1

Present

Siesta Key Beach

11/16/09

<1

Present

Turtle Beach

11/16/09

<1

Present

Nokomis Beach

11/16/09

1

Present 

North Jetty Beach

11/16/09

<1

Present 

Venice Beach 

11/16/09

<1

Present

Service Club Park

11/16/09

<1

Present

Venice Fishing Pier

11/16/09

<1

Present

Brohard Beach

11/16/09

<1

Present

Caspersen Beach

11/16/09

 <1 

 Present

Manasota Beach

11/16/09

<1

Present

Blind Pass Park 

11/16/09

<1

Present


Karenia brevis counts Legend

Description

(cells/ml)

Possible Effects (K. brevis only)
Present

-

<1

None
Very Low a

>1

<5

Possible respiratory irritation
Very Low b

>5

<10

Possible respiratory irritation and shellfish harvesting closures
Low a

>10

<50

Respiratory irritation, but chlorophyll levels too low to be detected by satellites
Low b

>50

<100

Respiratory irritation, maybe fish kills, and bloom chlorophyll probably detected by satellites
Medium

>100

<1,000

Respiratory irritation and probable fish kills
High

>1,000

-

As above plus discoloration

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