Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)

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Results of Red Tide Workshop Inform Future Research Needs to Improve Prediction, Management, and Mitigation of the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Species Karenia brevis

Released July 21, 2006

The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) jointly sponsored a scientific workshop with Mote Marine Laboratory and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, bringing together 75 national and international experts on Florida red tide. The meeting, which received significant press coverage, successfully summarized and synthesized existing research, identified research gaps, and formulated future research priorities that will ultimately better enable resource managers to detect, assess, predict, control and mitigate Florida red tide. The workshop was held in Sarasota , Florida on July 17-20, 2006. Florida red tides occur nearly annually on Florida 's west coast and occur in other areas of the Gulf of Mexico as well. Karenia brevis , the harmful algal bloom (HAB) species that causes red tide, produces neurotoxins that can kill marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and other marine creatures, and blooms have been shown to affect humans with chronic respiratory problems such as asthma. For more information, please visit CSCOR's meeting website or contact Quay Dortch Quay.Dortch@noaa.gov