The last of the no-swim advisories posted after high levels of bacteria were found off several Sarasota County beaches last Thursday have been lifted.
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County lifted the advisories for Turtle and Nokomis beaches on Monday after officials said they received testing results showing the enterococcus bacteria at a satisfactory level under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state recreational water standards.
While the “no swim” signs will be removed, warnings will remain posted about the continuing presence of the red tide algae bloom off the coastline. Those signs will remain until conditions improve.
Health officials posted no-swim advisories last week for Longboat Key, Siesta, Turtle, Nokomis and North Jetty Beaches in Sarasota County after high levels of a bacteria commonly found in human and animal waste were measured.
The advisories at the other beaches were lifted over the weekend as testing showed levels within acceptable limits.
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County monitors water quality weekly at 16 sites along Sarasota’s 34 miles of beaches.