What's the best way to find out about red tide? We usually roll with the punches but I'm bringing a friend along on our family vacation (to Anna Maria Island in a week. She has several health related problems that put her in the hospital pretty regularly. I'd hate for red tide to cause more problems than necessary for her.

Hi amwosu, I don't know but have you tried google.com and typing "red tide" in the search engine to see if you can get any info.

Having had family in LongBoatKey FL I know for some people that the red tide can cause serious health problems.

Or, have you called the hotel. Maybe someone there would give you correct information.

Amwosu, I wish there could be a Red Tide signal just like there are flags posted for swimming conditions (red: warning, yellow: caution, purple: jellyfish, etc.), but unfortunately the tide and winds shift and while it could be okay early in the day it could deteriorate in the afternoon. That was my own experience not too long ago in Sarasota. The winds picked up and left me and others coughing (and aggravating my asthma) as well as a stinging throat/mouth.

You can check various websites but they are not always updated. We asked the hotel too and they said it was not a problem but I think they were referring to the fact that there wasn't any dead fish or odor - the effects of Red Tide can exist despite these outward signs and not everyone is affected in the same way. It certainly couldn't hurt to call the hotel and ask how the conditions have been lately, but I think you need to inform your guest so she can be prepared to be flexible.

I just googled and found the Fish And Wildlife Research Institute website to be quite helpful. The site has a map of the area and unfortunately, the Sarasota area looks like it is being affected while the Naples area looks clear of red tide at the moment. We are renting a house directly on Bradenton Beach and I have plans to rent a kayak for the week and a pontoon boat for a day. I think I'll play that by ear. Thanks to both of you for the info.

Hoping that you all have a healthy and fun time in Florida. Take good care and sure hope the redtide problem is very minor when you are there.

http://www.mote.org/~mhenry/rtupdate.phtml

I read that 33 dead manatees have been found since March 4 and their deaths are most likely related to red tide. How sad!

Could someone please explain what Red Tide is?

There could be a far better and more scientific term, but essentially it is a large bloom of algae. Have you ever seen pond scum -- algae that starts spreading on top or just under the surface of the water. Like that, it is a form of algae, possibly caused by chemical run off from land (lawn fertilizers, etc). It robs the oxygen from the water and causes huge fish kills. Normally these big patches of algae remain off shore or die out from time to time, but red tide occurs when the winds or currents bring them in close to shore, and the result is the airborn irritants that cause a throat cough, and the resultant dead fish on shore.

Thanks Patrick. That clears up a mystery for me. I have experienced this cough at the ocean before and could not understand it. Do you know if the Great Lakes has red tide also at times?