The FWC is closely monitoring southwestern Florida as Karenia brevis, also known as red tide, was detected in multiple samples this week in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties. Red tides have been recorded along the Florida Gulf Coast since the 1840s and are naturally occurring microscopic algae that occur nearly every year.
As part of the FWC Center for Red Tide Research, the USF-College of Marine Science and the Mote Marine Laboratory each deployed sensor-equipped gliders to better understand conditions offshore. The information collected will assist future sampling and forecasting efforts. Under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, funding has been increased to strengthen offshore monitoring capabilities for real-time signs of red tide.
The 2022-23 budget invested $4.8 million in the Red Tide Research Center at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). The center was created at the governor’s request in 2019 to improve red tide monitoring techniques statewide and to conduct research to better track, predict, and mitigate the impact of red tide on Florida communities. I was. The Red Tide Research Center brings together state and local governments, universities, private sector partners, and citizen scientists to enhance statewide red tide monitoring and conduct applied research on red tide.
The 2022-23 budget also includes $5 million dedicated to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Red Tide Emergency Grant Program, which assists county governments in removing biological debris to minimize the effects of red tide. I’m here.
FWC recently created an animated video that answers common questions about red tide. This video is aimed at residents and visitors and covers three main topics. Red tides are dangerous to humans. How to track red tides. Available as a single video or as three short, independent videos focused on each topic, these easy-to-access resources provide important background leading up to and during red tide events. Easy to share to help.
For more information on red tide, visit https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/.
