Where is the red tide now? Check here.

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Dead fish are washing up on the southwest Florida coast thanks to a toxic algae known as red tide that can pose a risk to humans.

The algae, which is known formally as the single-cell Karenia brevis, has concentrated near Tampa and neighboring communities.

Scientists have found the algae at rates ranging from 10,000 cells per liter to more than 1 million cells per liter – levels that result in fish kills and breathing difficulties in exposed humans, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The FWC said Friday that red tide was detected at concentrations greater than 100,000 cells per liter in samples from the following counties:

Pasco
Pinellas
Manatee
Sarasota
Charlotte
Lee
Collier
Monroe

The agency said red tide becomes harmful to people at 10,000 cells per liter.

Red tides produce a toxin called brevetoxin that can make humans ill if they breathe the toxin in through sea spray or get wet with contaminated water.

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The illness can cause a range of symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including:

Coughing and sneezing
Shortness of breath
Eye, skin, and throat irritation
Asthma attacks

The FWC it had received multiple reports of dead fish respiratory irritation at communities through the Southwest Florida. Officials in Sarasota County said they were monitoring beaches daily to see if enough dead fish had accumulated to begin cleanup per county policy.

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