Red Tide Blooms
 As red tide blooms approach coastal areas, breaking waves can cause
their toxins to become mixed with airborne sea spray. People in coastal areas can experience varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation. When a person leaves an area
with a red tide, symptoms usually go away. People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease are cautioned to avoid areas with active red tides.
Shellfish like clams, oysters, and coquinas that are harvested from areas with active red tides should not be eaten. These shellfish are filter feeders that can concentrate the toxins.
Scallops can be consumed if only the scallop muscle is eaten. Scallop stew, using the whole animal including guts, should not be eaten. Seafood, also commonly called shellfish such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster can be eaten because they do not concentrate the toxin.
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions
on Florida Red Tide (43 KB pdf
 )
Information on Florida Red Tide and their toxins.
The location of current red tide events within Florida coastal waters as
well as links to more detailed information about red tide organisms can
be found on the Fish
and Wildlife Research lnstitute
(formerly the Florida Marine Research Institute)
home page.
For more information on red tide and beach conditions in Sarasota County, visit: Our Gulf Environment
Return to the Aquatic Toxins Disease Prevention Program Home Page
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