´Tis the Red Tide season; high levels in the Panhandle coast

It is not a bad start to the Red Tide season across western Florida, especially since no microorganisms have been detected in the southwest, where toxic algae blooms often occur during early fall. But there are high concentrations along the Panhandle's coast, especially in Bay and Gulf counties, affecting St. Andrews Bay and Mexico Beach.

Here, authorities have warned beachgoers to stay off the water to avoid skin, eye, and respiratory problems. They also advise against eating shellfish, as they may have become contaminated and be lethal; there have been fish kills in some areas.

The red tide is a harmful algal bloom caused by the naturally occurring alga Karenia brevis (K. brevis). When K. brevis appears in large quantities — typically in the Gulf of Mexico — it can turn ocean water red