Red Tide

Southerly winds are pushing the red tide blooms northward into Pinellas County.

Whether or not researchers discover brevetoxins in the pesky flies, the results are expected to be scientifically relevant.

A researcher from the University of Florida spoke about the the long-term economic effects of the outbreak.

Members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said more-proactive measures are needed because red tide outbreaks will continue to hinder the state, particularly the Gulf Coast, which is struggling with an outbreak in the Tampa Bay area.

Fish kills have been reported the past week along beaches in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

A health advisory is being issued for many Pinellas beaches this weekend, with onshore breezes expected to make many red tide conditions worse.

As red tide continues to plague Florida’s west coast, it also seems to continue expanding north.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, in St. Petersburg to see the devastation to Tampa Bay caused by red tide, said a state of emergency — requested by the city and business and environmental groups — is not necessary to support the efforts.

The letter from the group follows a request from St. Petersburg's mayor and city council last week to help fund cleanup of what is being called the worst red tide outbreak ever in Tampa Bay.

Marchers blamed the state's response to the spill of 200 million gallons of contaminated water from the former Piney Point phosphate plant for what’s happening now in Tampa Bay.