Thanks to the blanket of red tide along Florida’s Gulf Coast that’s not only killed marine life but emptied what are normally packed beaches, Governor Rick Scott is finally declaring a state of emergency that will cover Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
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Scott said,
“As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of red tide, we will continue taking an aggressive approach by using all available resources to help our local communities. I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts.”1
Scott says he will order $100,000 for additional scientists to help with clean-up efforts, $500,000 to help local communities and businesses struggling with lost income as tourists flee, and $900,000 in grants to help Lee County’s clean-up efforts. Since August 1st, Sarasota County has removed more than 66 tons of fish from county beaches.
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Algae blooms make the water toxic for marine life and in the last couple of weeks thousands of fish, some turtles and large fish, as well as manatees, have washed up dead. In fact, in Sarasota County, 11 dead dolphins have been found and marine biologists are investigating if their deaths are linked to red tide.2
Since Aug. 1, Sarasota County has removed more than 66 tons of fish from county beaches, which remain open. We continue to monitor the beaches and clean in accordance with the beach cleanup policy. For the latest, visit https://t.co/1H9VT0nuwY. #redtide pic.twitter.com/02VyQErJ6K
— SarasotaCountyGov (@SRQCountyGov) August 10, 2018
According to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute:
- the number of dead and stranded sea turtles this year is nearly three times higher than average
- more than 450 stranded and dead sea turtles have been recovered in four affected counties
- they estimate that 250 to 300 died from red tide poisoning.
Officials are STILL trying to “figure out” why this year’s red tide is so intense, blaming it on hurricanes and still ignoring runoff from Big Sugar.
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- This candidate for Florida governor is the only one taking money from Big Sugar despite algae bloom controversy
- As Toxic Algae Chokes Fla Waters Into State of Emergency, Petition Urges Chain to Drop Big Sugar
- NBC: People boycotting sugar in protest of algae crisis
We will continue to report on this issue. Let’s hope this time officials have learned their lesson, lest we are back here again this same time, next year.
