Red tide levels decline across Palm Beach County

Red tide levels declined across Palm Beach County this week, mirroring a similar drop in Broward County, as South Florida showed signs of shaking off its brush with the toxic algae.

Test results released Wednesday found low levels of red tide from Boca Raton to the island of Palm Beach, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

No new results were reported from the Jupiter area, a red tide hotspot last week, registering the highest concentration in South Florida.

But new water samples were taken in Jupiter, and results are expected on Thursday, said Deborah Drum, director of Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management Department.

She called the Palm Beach County results “good news” but was cautious about declaring the red tide episode over.

“I think it’s too soon to say,” she said. “But it is encouraging.”

In Broward County, 1,200 to 1,700 dead fish were found on Hollywood’s beach Wednesday. But city and county officials said they thought those fish were the delayed result of last week’s red tide, not evidence of a new outbreak.

Water samples taken off Broward County this week showed little or no red tide. The fish, many of which showed signs of decomposition, probably washed up as a result of strong winds from the east, they said, rather than from a resurgent red tide.

“It didn’t look like a recent exposure,” said Jennifer Jurado, Broward County’s director of environmental planning and community resilience.

Joanne Hussey, spokeswoman for Hollywood, said the city cleared the fish and that the city’s beach workers hadn’t heard of anyone reporting red tide symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing or an itchy throat.

Normally found only on the Gulf coast, red tide rode the current that runs from the Gulf around the peninsula to the Atlantic coast. Its detection led to a flurry of beach closing and concerns about any effects on tourism.

A “moderate” level of red tide will persist off Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties through at least Friday, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Very low levels are predicted off Martin and St. Lucie counties.