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Red tide? Seaweed blob? Nope, scientists are watching a different algae

Researchers call it ‘sea sawdust,’ and it has a friendly relationship with the organism that causes red tide. It’s likely offshore of every county from Pinellas to Collier.

Florida researchers are watching an algae bloom drifting offshore of the Tampa Bay area — and no, it’s not red tide or a looming blob of seaweed.

Scientists are monitoring a patchy cloud of “sea sawdust” that has ebbed and flowed in the Gulf of Mexico for nearly a week, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. The blue-green algae species, known as Trichodesmium, is often found in tropical waters and blooms off Southwest Florida.

The good news: It’s not known to be toxic. The bad news: It leaves behind nitrogen that can feed red tide.

Sea sawdust earns its nickname from the opaque, brownish hue it reflects as it gathers on the sea surface, according to Kate Hubbard, the director of the state’s Center for Red Tide Research. From above, thick blooms can resemble oil slicks.

“It really stands out,” Hubbard said in an interview. “When you’re on the water, it pops out as something that looks different than really any other type of algae.”