Red tide reported along Gulf Coast beaches

Slight respiratory irritation from red tide was reported at the Venice North Jetty, Siesta Key and Nokomis Tuesday, according to beach monitoring by Mote Marine Laboratory.

Some dead fish were also reported at the Venice North Jetty. No impacts were reported from other Southwest Florida sites monitored, according to a Mote news release.

Mote is collecting water samples as part of year-round monitoring program. Elevated levels of the toxic red algae were reported early this month at “low” or “very low” concentrations, above normal background levels.

But collections on Monday and Tuesday found higher levels, at “medium” concentrations in two samples collected by Mote scientists near the lab's main campus on City Island, the news release stated.