Red Tide Continues Along Florida’s Southwest Coast
A bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, persists alongshore of southwest Florida, with the highest concentrations detected so far this week alongshore of Charlotte County. Medium concentrations were detected alongshore of Sarasota County and medium to high concentrations were detected alongshore of Collier County. Low concentrations were also detected offshore of Charlotte County.
Fish kills and respiratory irritation continue to be reported from Sarasota County south through Lee County.
In other areas of Florida, one sample collected in the Indian River Lagoon (Brevard County) did not contain K. brevis. For updates visit www.myfwc.com.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
