Florida Red Tide and other Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

09/11/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida in prior weeks was composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis (the red tide organism). These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis (if any), and no brevetoxins were detected in Northeast Florida counties during this bloom. The daily sample map was updated with corrected data on September 2, 2026.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables and regional maps. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

No fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict net northwestern movement of surface waters from Pinellas to Charlotte counties, with variable movement from Lee to northern Monroe counties. Variable subsurface water transport is predicted from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties over the next few days.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, September 18.

View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb
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A map of Florida showing locations of water samples collected September 3 through 10, and analyzed over the past week, as detailed in the regional Red Tide Status Reports dated September 11 on our Red Tide Current Status page.

09/04/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida in prior weeks was composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis (the red tide organism). These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis (if any), and no brevetoxins have been detected in Northeast Florida counties during this bloom. FWC will continue to monitor the event and incorporate microscopy, genetic, and toxin analyses to best characterize the bloom population. The daily sample map was updated with corrected data on September 2, 2026.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables and regional maps. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

Over the past week, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Northwest Florida. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Franklin County.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict variable movement of surface and subsurface waters from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, September 11.

View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb
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A map of Florida showing locations of water samples collected August 27 through September 3, and analyzed over the past week, as detailed in the regional Red Tide Status Reports dated September 4 on our Red Tide Current Status page.

08/28/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida is composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis. These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis, if any, and no brevetoxins have been detected in Northeast Florida counties during this event. FWC will continue to monitor the event and incorporate microscopy, genetic, and toxin analyses to best characterize the bloom population.

This information was updated September 2, 2026, based on additional laboratory analyses.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables, regional maps, and an interactive Google Earth map. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

Over the past week, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions

Additional details follow.
• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not obeserved.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict net northern movement of surface waters and variable transport of subsurface waters from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, September 4. View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb

Social

08/21/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida is composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis . These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis, if any, and no brevetoxins have been detected in Northeast Florida counties during this event. FWC will continue to monitor the event and incorporate microscopy, genetic, and toxin analyses to best characterize the bloom population.

This post was updated on 9/3/2026 based on the new information, and the original map was removed.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables, regional maps, and an interactive Google Earth map. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.
 In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in two samples collected offshore of Pinellas County.
 In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
 Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict variable movement of surface and subsurface waters from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, August 28. View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb

Social

08/14/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida is composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis . These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis, if any, and no brevetoxins have been detected in Northeast Florida counties during this event. FWC will continue to monitor the event and incorporate microscopy, genetic, and toxin analyses to best characterize the bloom population.

This post was updated on 9/3/2026 based on the new information, and the original map was removed.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables, regional maps, and an interactive Google Earth map. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Pasco County.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict net southern movement of surface and subsurface waters in most areas from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, August 21. View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb

Social

08/07/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida is composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis. These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis, if any, and no brevetoxins have been detected in Northeast Florida counties during this event. FWC will continue to monitor the event and incorporate microscopy, genetic, and toxin analyses to best characterize the bloom population.

This post was updated on 9/3/2026 based on the new information, and the original map was removed.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables, regional maps, and an interactive Google Earth map. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.

 In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations offshore of Hillsborough County, and in Manatee, Charlotte, and Collier counties.

 In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Wakulla County.

 Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict northwestern movement of surface waters in most areas and variable transport of subsurface waters from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, August 14. View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb
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Social

07/31/2026

UPDATE: Recent genetic and toxin analyses confirmed that the bloom observed in Northeast Florida is composed of Karenia papilionacea, rather than Karenia brevis . These two species can be difficult to distinguish using light microscopy alone, so genetic analysis was used to confirm the identification. Karenia papilionacea produces substantially less toxin than K. brevis, if any, and no brevetoxins have been detected in Northeast Florida counties during this event. FWC will continue to monitor the event and incorporate microscopy, genetic, and toxin analyses to best characterize the bloom population.

This post was updated on 9/3/2026 based on the new information, and the original map was removed.

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables, regional maps, and an interactive Google Earth map. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Southwest Florida. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Charlotte County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict net southeastern movement of surface and subsurface waters in most areas from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, August 7. View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb

Social

07/24/2026

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables and regional maps. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected offshore of Southwest Florida. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from offshore of Sarasota County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict variable movement of surface and subsurface waters from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, July 31. View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb
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A map of Florida showing locations of water samples collected July 16 through 23, and analyzed over the past week, as detailed in the Red Tide Status Report dated July24 on our Red Tide Current Status page.

07/17/2026

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables and regional maps. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Florida’s East Coast. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

Additional details follow.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from St. Johns County.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict net southern to southeastern movement of surface and subsurface waters in most areas from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, July 24.

View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb
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A map of Florida showing locations of water samples collected July 9 through 16, and analyzed over the past week, as detailed in the Red Tide Status Report dated July 17 on our Red Tide Current Status page.

07/10/2026

For the most updated information on our sample results, please check our daily sampling map (MyFWC.com/redtidemap), which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/). Our online status report includes a full detailed Red Tide Report with data tables and regional maps. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together at https://protectingfloridatogether.gov.

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.

No Fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were reported to FWC's Fish Kill Hotline or other partners over the past week.

Respiratory Irritation suspected to be related to red tide was not reported over the past week in Florida. For forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast.

Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict variable movement of surface and subsurface waters for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

The the next status report will be issued on Friday, July 17.

View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb
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A map of Florida showing locations of water samples collected July 2 through 9, and analyzed over the past week, as detailed in the Red Tide Status Report dated July 10 on our Red Tide Current Status page.