Red tide has returned.  Red tide (caused by blooms of the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis) was detected off the coast of Sarasota County in early to mid-October.  As of October 19, it was primarily located alongshore and offshore of Charlotte County, with some reports of medium cell concentrations in Pine Island Sound.  There were reports of dead fish last week on some beaches in northern Lee County last week.  Karenia concentrations have been relatively low in recent years, so the detection of this red tide is receiving a good deal of local attention.