Suncoast, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper Groups To Host Red Tide Forum

PALMETTO, FL — Registration is open for a public forum on the causes, effects and what can be done about harmful algae blooms such as red tide and Lyngbya.

The forum, which will take place Friday morning at the Bradenton Yacht Club in Palmetto, is hosted by the Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper organizations, according to a news release from the organization. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. with the presentation starting at 8 a.m.

The public is welcome to attend the forum in person or virtually. Those interested in attending in person can register online here for $10. The price includes coffee, tea, juice, fruit and bagels.

To attend virtually for free, log into the event through Google Meet here. Attendees can also join by phone at 662-912-6165 using the PIN 753903269#.

“Our region has been impacted by a Lyngbya algae bloom that sucked the oxygen out of our marine environment, caused a nauseating stench (and) harmed wildlife, followed by an epic event of red tide in Tampa Bay, killing (a) massive amount of fish and dolphins, stinking up our waterfronts, and causing respiratory and other health issues,” Joe McClash, Suncoast Waterkeeper chair, wrote on the organization’s website.

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He added, “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, (as well as) increased development and continued discharge of treated sewage.”

Dr. Dave Tomasko and Ed Sherwood, directors of the Sarasota and Tampa Bay Estuary programs, respectively, are the featured speakers at Friday’s forum.

Both will offer scientific information about red tide and Lyngbya, including historical perspective, gains the community has made against the algae blooms and the impacts from the current blooms, the Waterkeeper groups said. They will also talk about possible solutions so the community can reduce the economic, health and environmental impacts associated with these blooms.

“The questions we keep getting from our community are, ‘What can we do, what is the cause and how do we prevent this in the future?’ This forum will help answer those questions,” McClash said.

Megan Eakins, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper chair, added, “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.”