One week after announcing red tide cleared, Sarasota reinstates advisory at several area beaches

Dead fish on Florida Gulf Coast shoreline in 2020 Photo by Uncovering Florida

​One week ago the City of Sarasota announced that the beaches were officially clear of red tide, a harmful algae bloom that causes fish kills and a host of uncomfortable respiratory symptoms in humans, for the first time since December.

"ADVISORY LIFTED - The Florida Department of Health - Sarasota County has lifted the Red Tide Health Advisory that has been in place at all 16 Sarasota County beaches since December 28, 2022," The City of Sarasota's Instagram post from one week ago reads, in part.

However, the good news was short lived as a new post from earlier today confirms that levels of red tide are elevated again at several beaches in Sarasota.

"RED TIDE - The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) is notifying the public of elevated levels of red tide detected at area beaches," the new post states, furthering that the beaches with elevated levels of red tide include Bird Key/ Ringling Causeway, North Lido, Lido Casino, South Lido, Siesta Key.

"Due to elevated counts of red tide from Monday's beach water samples, DOH-Sarasota will be changing the signage at affected beaches to advise the public that red tide is present."

Currently, the beaches remain open to the public but the Department is making the following recommendations for beachgoers:
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• Do not swim around dead fish.
• If you have chronic respiratory problems, consider staying away from the beach as red tide can affect your breathing.
• Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish and distressed or dead fish. If fish are healthy, rinse fillets with tap or bottled water and throw out the guts.
• Keep pets and livestock away from water, sea foam, and dead sea life.
• Residents living in beach areas who experience respiratory symptoms are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner (ensuring that the A/C filter is maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications).
• If outdoors, residents may choose to wear paper filter masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

You can find the city's full post here.