ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Bay area leaders are meeting again Wednesday to discuss red tide. 

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, along with U.S Reps. Kathy Castor and Charlie Crist will hold a roundtable discussion with local scientists, experts, business owners and those in the fishing industry on what is the next step in protecting Florida’s coasts.

The meeting will take place Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Headquarters, located at 3201 Scherer Drive.

Researchers are studying exactly how the storm impacted the bloom, but this weekend many beaches had dead fish, odor and unfavorable air quality.

Red tide is a type of harmful algae bloom (HAB) caused by an increase or 'bloom' in the concentration of certain microscopic algae in the water column. The bloom has been particularly strong this year.

Pinellas city and county officials have been working around the clock to clear all the beaches of any dead fish. So far, more than 800 tons of red tide waste has been removed from county beaches.

Officials said Hurricane Michael made conditions along the beaches worse.

For more information about the latest beach conditions, visit the Pinellas County government website.