Educational Materials
The role of the Aquatic Toxins Disease Prevention Program is to prevent and reduce illness.
One of the important ways we do this is by providing accurate information to residents and visitors,
local health departments, the medical community and other interested people. With this information,
people can make informed and healthy choices about their recreational activities and seafood consumption.
The following documents have information on the types of illnesses people may experience if they come into contact
with a harmful algal bloom or toxin.
REPORTS
HABs Technical Guide (6 MB pdf  )
Resource Guide for Public Health Response to Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida: This guide is the product of a
collaboration between Florida Department of Health, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other
federal, state and local partners. It describes the current science of Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida, ways in which
public health response can be done, and contact information. A more complete description of its contents are listed on page 7
of the PDF.
POSTERS AND PAMPHLETS
Eat Puffer and You May Suffer poster (632 KB pdf )
Eat Puffer and You May Suffer: In Florida, certain puffer fish contain a chemical called saxitoxin. When this toxin accumulates in shellfish,
people may get a rare illness called Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. This can also happen when people eat contaminated puffer fish
from the Indian River Lagoon area. This poster describes the organism that produces the toxin, types of puffers contaminated, and how
to protect yourself.
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning poster (6 MB pdf )
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning Poster: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is the most frequently reported marine poisoning world-wide.
Exposures occur through ingesting seafood, especially large tropical carnivorous finfish. In Florida, CFP cases occur each year
especially in South Florida. This poster describes the algae that produce the toxin, types of fish affected, and how to protect
yourself from getting sick.
Beware of Ciquatera poster (158 KB pdf )
Beware of Ciguatera Outreach Poster: This poster describes the types of fish which can transmit ciguatera, a useful
communication tool for sport fishermen, restaurants, and the public.
Ciguatera Card (320 KB pdf )
Top 10 Facts on Ciguatera Card: This two-sided card provides factual information designed to educate seafood consumers on the risk factors associated with ciguatera fish poisoning.
Red Tide poster (654 KB pdf )
Red Tide Poster: Red Tide in Florida is caused by the algae, Karenia brevis. At times, this marine algae can produce toxins.
When people eat contaminated shellfish, they can get an illness called Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. People can also get sick from breathing
in salt spray during a red tide. This poster describes the organism that produces the red tide toxin and how to protect yourself and your family.
Get the Facts on Red Tide Pamphlet (963 KB pdf )
Top 10 Facts on Red Tide Pamphlet Developed by the Sarasota County Health Department
Blue Green Algae Card (226 KB pdf )
'Have You Been Slimed' Blue Green Algae Card Developed by the Florida Department of Health
SIGNAGE
 Signage for Cyanobacteria/Blue Green Algae: Caloosahatchee River, Lee
County, 2005 (43 KB pdf )
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Beach Signage for Red Tide: Sarasota County, 2006-
Sarasota County Our Gulf Environment web site )
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