We are supposed to go to Sanibel in about 4 weeks and have just read that they are having problems with red tide. Can anyone provide us with any updates? Should we change our plans?

Correction - this is red algae instead of red tide but still not pleasant.

luvtravl, I don't believe there is Red Tide present anywhere right now on the west coast. Although I live north of where you're going, these two sites are very reliable when it comes to updates, and they show nothing but good news!

http://www.floridamarine.org/feature...e.asp?id=12373

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/habf/

By the way, Red Tide is algae, so I think "red algae" and RT are one and the same...

Joan is wrong, red tide and red algae are different. Red tide robs the water of oxygen and kills fish, red algae is smelly and ugly but is not toxic to fish and doesn't cause the respiratory problems that red tide does for some people.

I was going to Sanibel today and had to cancel plans, not because of red algae however. I believe it has subsided. It is not a long term event.

I'll see what I can find for you but you should be able to google it but I would say it is difficult to predict what will happen in 4 weeks. LMF

Today's news (5/28) on the Red Tide from Mote Marine Labs in HeraldTribune.com was not so upbeat. Suggest you check out their information.
Carol
Editor - Lowfares.com
http://www.lowfares.com

There is no red tide present on the west coast of Florida as of today. There may be in 4 weeks but that is impossible to predict. The link to the Herald just gave the front page. The problem with red algae on the beaches of Sanibel has gone. Read about that here:

http://tinyurl.com/hc2ed

You can get accurate data on red tide outbreaks from here:

http://www.floridamarine.org/feature...e.asp?id=12373

Hello LilMsFoodie,

So the red algae is gone from Sanibel? We were there a couple years ago during a red algae drift and it was not pleasant. We've got a couple more days before sending in final payment on our condo and were trying to decide what to do. Thanks!

Wow, I stand corrected! I have lived here for 23 years and never knew there was Red Algae in addition to Red Tide. I googled (I'm almost sorry I did!) and found out there's lots of different algaes out there, but only some are actually harmful...apparently there's even a harmful "blue-green algae" lurking out there.

http://tinyurl.com/s2nlc

I'm just glad that the year of red tide hell is over. Last summer it was very sad to see absolutely no wildlife in the waters. But yesterday I saw every kind of fish and critter I could think of. Very healthy right now (Tampa Bay).

I hope you continue with your plans, luvtravl, and have a wonderful time. So sorry I was misinformed!