Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in samples collected from the Florida Department of Health – Collier County. Red Tide is currently present along the beaches in Collier County and the City of Naples, from Wiggins Pass, Barefoot Beach, Barefoot Beach State Preserve, Vanderbilt Beach, Clam Pass, Seagate, Naples Pier, and South Marco Beach. The public should exercise caution in and around these areas.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions if near the affected area(s):

• Look for informational signage posted at most public beaches and/or check the current water quality status at Protecting Florida Together.
• Do not wade or swim in or around the red tide. Red tide can cause skin irritation, rashes, and burning/sore eyes.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you have had recent contact with red tide, especially if your skin is easily irritated.
• Avoid the beach if you have chronic respiratory problems.
• Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner. Make sure the air conditioner filter is maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish or distressed or dead fish from this location. If caught alive and healthy, finfish are safe to eat as long as they are filleted, and the guts are discarded. Rinse fillets with tap or bottled water.
• Red tide can cause illness and death of other animals, such as pets and livestock. Keep animals away and out of the water and sea life and away from dead marine life. If your pet swims in waters with red tide, wash them with soap and water as soon as possible.

For more information about the potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the Florida Department of Health’s Harmful Algal Blooms webpage or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s webpage on Red Tide and other Harmful Algal Blooms.