Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/104211
Sarasota News Leader January 18, 2013 Page 49 INCREASED RED TIDE LEVELS DETECTED ON COUNTY BEACHES Recent beach water samples collected by the Sarasota County Health Department and analyzed by Mote Marine Laboratory for the algae red tide (Karenia brevis) show a marked increase over test results from last week, Sarasota County reported on Jan. 16. Higher levels of Karenia brevis were found at several Sarasota County beaches, including Siesta Beach, Nokomis Beach and Venice Beach, a county news release says. The largest increases were reported from Turtle Beach at Midnight Pass Road south to Blind Pass Beach at 6725 Manasota Key Road, the release notes. This includes the Paw Park at South Brohard Beach, 1600 Harbor Drive South in Venice. "These increased concentrations are consistent with the northward movement of a con- centrated red tide patch from Charlotte Harbor to Sarasota County during the last few days," the release adds. Sarasota County lifeguards are reporting slight to moderate respiratory irritation caused by red tide's airborne toxins blowing ashore at various beaches, as well as some dead fish washing ashore in a number of locations, the release notes. Beach-goers may experience coughing, sneezing, scratchy throat or teary eyes, it points out. These effects should go away when people leave the beach, the release adds. It is also important to note that since winds are variable, conditions can change frequently throughout the day. For those who are susceptible, the symptoms associated with red tide tend to become more noticeable when the winds are blowing onshore, the release says. While red drift algae proved a nuisance to beach-goers last summer on Lido Key, it posed none of the health-related problems associated with red tide. Photo by Norman Schimmel