FORUM ON RED TIDE AND HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS
FORUM ON RED TIDE AND HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS
Our region has been impacted by a Lyngbya algae bloom that sucked the oxygen out of our marine environment, caused a nauseating stench, harmed wildlife, followed by an epic event of red tide in Tampa Bay, killing massive amount of fish and dolphins, stinking up our waterfronts, and causing respiratory and other health issues. Both of these issues have devastating impacts on our economy, putting at risk the livelihoods of fishing captains, tour operators, aquaculture businesses and tourist related businesses. Both of these events occurred after massive dumping of nutrient rich water from Piney Point; a closed phosphogypsum stack, increased development and continued discharge of treated sewage.
Suncoast Waterkeeper joining with Tampa Bay Waterkeeper held a SCIENTIFIC FORUM ON RED TIDE and LYNGBYA, focusing on the CAUSE, EFFECT and SOLUTION Friday July 23rd, 2021.
The Waterkeeper organizations invited government officials, their staff and other stakeholders. The event wass open to the public. The forum will also be virtual and recorded.
Suncoast Waterkeeper chairman, Joe McClash said - “The question we keep getting from our community is “what can we do?”, what is the cause and how do we prevent this in the future? This forum was intended to answer those questions.”
Tampa Bay Waterkeeper Chairman Megan Eakins stated “ Our Tampa Bay area has been impacted by an epic red tide event. Our members, some who are charter fishing captains, have lost their business overnight. Our organization will work hard to educate our community and elected officials on the science surrounding these issues, which is the focus of this forum.”
PRESENTERS: Dr. Dave Tomasko and Ed Sherwood, directors of Sarasota and Tampa Bay Estuary Programs
PRESENTATION: Both Directors presented scientific information on the Red Tide and Lyngbya, some historical perspective, gains we made, and the impacts from the current blooms. They discussed the cause, effect and solutions providing the community with valuable knowledge to assist in a path forward that reduces the economic, health and environmental impacts associated with these blooms.
LINKS RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION
VIDEO - WE EXPERIMENTED WITH DOINF FACEBOOK LIVE. IT WAS LIVE AND RECORDED AT THE SAME TIME
METV - Thanks to METV for producing a top quality video of the Forum.
Power Point by Dave Tomasko, director of Sarasota Estuary Program
Power Point by Ed Sherwood, director of Tampa Bay Estuary Program
RED TIDE VIDEO - RED TIDE VIDEO by Praech Production with TBWK and TBEP. Warning this video is graphic in documenting the 2021 epic red tide fish kill in Tampa Bay. Hear from Capt Dustin Pack, (one of our board members and local fishing guide) and from Maya Burke, Assistant Director of Tampa Bay Estuary Program, on how Red Tide has had devastating impacts on our economy and livelihood. It has been stinking up our waterfronts while causing respiratory and other health issues. Red tide has been amplified by the Piney Point disaster which dumped a massive amount of nutrient rich water, an increase in development and continued discharge of treated sewage