Red Tide

Microcystis, a type of cyanobacteria commonly called blue-green algae seen here under high magnification, are well-known for forming harmful algal blooms in Florida lakes, rivers, and estuaries, including Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River. These blooms often appear as fluorescent green surface scum and can produce toxins that can pose health risks to humans and animals. Microcystis blooms are common in warm, nutrient-rich freshwater environments in Florida, especially during summer, but can occur year-round

Blue-green algae in Charlotte Harbor spurs health advisory; more of both certain to come

Tom Bayles

Microcystis, a type of cyanobacteria commonly called blue-green algae seen above under high magnification, can bloom in Florida freshwater systems. Microcystis species are well-known for forming harmful algal blooms in Florida lakes, rivers, and estuaries, including Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River. These blooms often appear as fluorescent green surface scums and can produce toxins that can pose health risks to humans and animals. Microcystis blooms are common in warm, nutrient-rich freshwater environments in Florida, especially during summer, but can occur year-round.

Red tide often centers around Sanibel and Captiva islands

Environment

Environmental educators prepare for Florida's red tide season

Eddie Stewart

As blooms of blue-green algae begin to form in Southwest and Central Florida and red tide season approaches, environmental educators are preparing to inform tourists and locals alike about harmful algae blooms.

All of the sampling sites where Gulf waters were tested for red tide during the last ten days are grey, meaning the recent bloom that stretched from Tampa Bay to Key West has left Southwest Florida's coastal waters

Environment

Beach advisories cancelled as red tide from Tampa Bay to Key West fades

Tom Bayles

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County lifted nearly a dozen health alerts due to red tide

The burnt-orange water on the left is a full-blown red tide bloom that currently extends for dozens of miles from Sanibel Island toward Naples, which is only a section of the bloom from Tampa Bay to Key West

Environment

New Mote Marine study on red tide reveals potential link leading to increased ocean acidification

Eddie Stewart

The study, by Mote Marine Laboratory, connects increased harmful algae blooms with the long-term acidification of Florida’s estuaries.

Environment

Swath of red tide forms along Southwest Florida coast from Tampa Bay to Key West

Tom Bayles

A swath of red tide stretching for more than 200 miles has formed from Tampa Bay to Key West and the bloom started near Tampa Bay shortly after Hurricane Milton in October.

The Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier, shown here on an undated postcard years before Hurricane Elana blew it down in 1985, was the 'summer home' of Tom Bayles, who is now WGCU's senior environmental reporter, but then was just another 15-year-old "pier rat" and part of a group of friends who fished for tarpon all summer long with no cares about red tide or blue-green algae. The harmful algae blooms, which are happening at the same time right now, have become such a fixture in the waters off of Southwest Florida's beaches in the decades since that now red tide and blue-green algae are rarely not on Bayles' mind

Environment

Water Quality Report: 'Tarpon Fever, No Harmful Algae Blooms, And Little Me - The Red Tide Tales'

Tom Bayles

Fishing for tarpon on the Big Indian Rocks Pier as a teenager, WGCU senior environmental reporter Tom Bayles says he cannot remember ever smelling a red tide or seeing blue-green algae. Now, they are both blooming at the same time where he lives

Lake Avalon, the popular freshwater sports lake in Collier County, has been closed since mid-November, when health officials discovered a strain of blue-green algae lurking in the water that can be very harmful to people. The cyanobacteria really shouldn't be present in such relative abundance in January, as blue-green algae thrives in waters heated by the warmest sun of the year during the summer and fall.

Environment

Water Quality Report: Red tide and blue-green algae at the same time; what happens if they touch?

Tom Bayles

A type of harmful blue-green algae is so great in Lake Avalon that it remains closed to water sports enthusiasts for the third month. Meanwhile, red tides 15 miles wide are blooming in the Gulf of Mexico. In Southwest Florida, blue-green algae like the summer and fall, while red tide's time is the cooler winter and spring — but both harmful algae have taken hold in places throughout the region.

A red tide alert has been issued near Gasparilla Island State Park Beach.

Environment

DOH-Lee issues red tide alert for Gasparilla Island State Park Beach

WGCU Staff

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Gasparilla Island State Park Beach. This is in response to a water sample taken on December 30.

Environment

Red tide caution set for Vanderbilt Beach, lifted at Bowman's Beach

WGCU Staff

The Florida Department of Health in Collier County advises caution due to the presence of red tide near Vanderbilt Beach found in water samples taken this week.Meanwhile, a similar caution has been lifted at Bowman's Beach in Lee County.

Both red tide maps, current as of Dec. 12, 2024, show red tide about ten miles offshore Fort Myers, which is killing offshore anglers' chances to fish with live bait when they pass through the higher concentration of the red tide organism and the water gets in the live well

Environment

Water Quality Report: ‘The Mystery of the Dead Live Bait - The Red Tide Tales'

Tom Bayles

Red tide samples are coming up positive throughout Southwest Florida, but it's offshore where it's making an impact when anglers arrive to find out the organism got into the live wells and killed their bait.