ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Concentrations of the toxic red tide organism are well off significant levels compared to just weeks ago.
In fact, there are no reported "high" concentrations along Florida's Gulf Coast, according to the latest Dec. 12 update from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A patchy bloom of the organism that causes red tide, K. brevis, continues to exist -- it has not gone away entirely. Two sites each in Manatee and Sarasota counties report medium concentrations. Lesser levels were found elsewhere.
Pinellas County largely is red tide-free, with a very low concentration measured at Maximo Beach near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, with not present/background levels elsewhere.
Forecasts show surface Gulf water to move away from the coastline during the next several days, further reducing the red tide threat for now.
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