‘No Swim’ advisory issued for 8 Sarasota County beaches

No Swim advisory issued for multiple county beaches

SARASOTA COUNTY - As a precaution, Sarasota County health officials have issued “No Swim” advisories for the following beaches:

• Longboat Key
• Bird Key Park/ Ringling Causeway
• Turtle Beach
• Nokomis Beach
• Brohard Beach
• Casperson Beach
• Manasota Key
• Blind Pass

The amount of enterococcus bacteria found during water quality testing on Monday, Aug. 2 was outside acceptable limits. The beaches remain open, but wading, swimming and water recreation is not recommended if no swim advisories advisory in place.

Some bacteria are naturally present in the environment. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found a link between health and water quality. Signage advising the public not to swim or engage in water recreation will stay in place until follow-up water testing results meet the EPA’s recreational water quality standards.

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County will be resampling beaches on Friday, Aug. 6.