Red tide shouldn’t be a problem for most Pinellas beach goers this weekend, district officials say. But Hillsborough County is a different story.
Officials there issued a health warning that Red Tide could cause respiratory problems to anyone planning to hit the Davis Islands and Picnic Island beaches, and posted warning signs at Ben T. Davis and Cypress Point.
The fact that two neighboring counties would give drastically different assessments on Friday underscores how difficult it is to predict where and when the current outbreak of toxic algal blooms will flare up along Tampa Bay and the Gulf.
“It’s always a big deal when Red Tide comes up in the bay because it doesn’t happen every year,” said Maya Burke, assistant director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.
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But that bloom in particular, she said, was patchy, making it difficult to know which areas might be clear – and some – and where beachgoers or boaters might experience a sore throat and runny nose.
“It’s very difficult to keep track of,” said Burke.
Here is the weekend situation on both sides of the bay:
Most of the beaches of Pinellas show “little to no signs” of blossoms, according to the district. The exception is Honeymoon Island, where the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Friday report shows a high concentration off the east coast.
Dead fish and some blooms have been spotted in the Intracoastal Waterway, south of Anclote Key, in Boca Ciega Bay, and near Gulfport Pier. Cleanup crews removed tons of dead fish from the beaches a few days ago, but now the county reports they are pulling back and hauling away dumpsters and other heavy equipment.
The only other high concentration near the coast of Pinellas was found on the other side of the peninsula, near the Channel of the Venetian Islands in St. Petersburg. But the county didn’t highlight any problems there.
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The state noted 16 mean concentrations of Karenia brevis on Friday, causing the poisonous algal blooms, floating close together along the southern border between Hillsborough and Manatee. Scientists have investigated a link between the current blooms and the 215 million gallons of polluted sewage that was dumped from the old Piney Point fertilizer factory in Manatee, Tampa Bay in April.
A health warning has been issued for Davis Islands and Picnic Island, and health officials are warning that anyone in these areas can experience eye, nose, and throat irritation and respiratory problems. Asthma sufferers should avoid the area.
The same health effects can occur at Ben T. Davis and Cypress Point, where officials post warning signs. The best way to avoid or relieve these symptoms is to go inside or outside the area.
Times staffer Zachary T. Sampson contributed to this report.
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Red Tide resources
There are several resources that can help residents stay updated and share information about Red Tide:
Florida Poison Control Centers have a toll-free 24/7 hotline to report diseases even if they have been exposed to the Red Tide: 800-222-1222
Visit St. Pete / Clearwater, the county’s tourism wing, operates an online beach dashboard at www.beachesupdate.com.
The agency is encouraging business owners to email reports of Red Tide issues to pr@visitspc.com.
Pinellas County shares information with the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast Tool, which beach goers can use to search for alerts.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a website that tracks where Red Tide is discovered and how high the concentrations are.
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This will keep you safe around the water
- Beach goers should avoid swimming around dead fish.
- Individuals with chronic respiratory problems should be especially careful and “stay away” most of the time from locations with red tide blooms.
- People should not harvest or eat mollusks or distressed and dead fish from the area. Fillets of healthy fish should be rinsed with clean water and the entrails discarded.
- Pet owners should keep their animals away from the water and dead fish.
- Residents who live near the beach should close their windows and operate air conditioning systems with suitable filters.
- Visitors to the beach can wear paper masks, especially when the wind blows in.
Source: Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County