The FWC is intently monitoring Southwest Florida, since Karenia brevis, often known as red tide, was detected in a number of samples in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties this week. Red tide is a naturally occurring microscopic alga that has been documented alongside Florida’s Gulf Coast for the reason that 1840s and happens almost yearly.
As a part of the FWC Center for Red Tide Research, USF-College of Marine Science and Mote Marine Laboratory have every deployed a glider outfitted with sensors to higher perceive circumstances offshore. The information collected will assist direct future sampling and forecasting efforts. Under the management of Governor Ron DeSantis, elevated funding has been offered to improve monitoring capabilities in offshore areas for indicators of red tide in real-time.
In the FY 2022-23 finances, $4.8 million was invested for the Center for Red Tide Research on the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). The middle was created on the request of the Governor in 2019 to enhance statewide red tide monitoring strategies and conduct analysis to higher monitor, predict, and mitigate the consequences of red tide on Florida communities. The Center for Red Tide Research brings collectively state and native governments, universities, non-public sector companions, and citizen scientists to improve statewide red tide monitoring and conduct utilized analysis on red tide.
The FY 2022-23 finances additionally features a devoted $5 million for the Department of Environmental Protection’s red tide emergency grant program which helps county governments in cleanup of organic particles to decrease the impacts of red tide.
The FWC not too long ago created an animated video to assist reply frequent red tide questions. This video is meant for residents and guests and covers three important matters: what’s red tide; is red tide harmful to people; and the way can we monitor red tide. Available as a single video or as three shorter standalone movies targeted on every subject, these easy-to-access assets may be readily shared to assist present necessary background main up to and through red tide occasions.
For extra information relating to red tide, go to: https://myfwc.com/analysis/redtide/.
