Red tide is top concern during Manatee County legislative delegation meeting

After more than a year of red tide killing sea life, impairing water quality and hurting tourism in the region, local leaders are urging Manatee County’s legislative delegation to take action to combat the harmful algae bloom when they convene in Tallahassee in March.

A number of speakers brought up red tide during the delegation meeting Wednesday.

Read more: Complete coverage of red tide in Southwest Florida

A Manatee Chamber of Commerce official talked about the impact of red tide on local businesses, local government leaders spoke about the harm to their communities and the head of Mote Marine Laboratory pitched a plan to develop technologies that can mitigate red tide.

Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby proposed a new nonprofit research consortium to address red tide. It would be housed at Mote, where scientists would collaborate with researchers from other institutions on efforts to diminish red tide blooms when they occur.

Crosby requested $3 million annually for the next five years to fund the research efforts. Mote has long been involved in red tide research but Crosby said such efforts need to be expanded to more “applied science” technologies that can lessen the impact of red tide.

“This is above and beyond,” what Mote already is doing, Crosby said. “And it’s really a game-changer.”

Mote recently received state money and a $1 million private grant to test such technologies, but Crosby said there needs to be a sustained multi-year commitment to make progress.

“There’s so much we’ve learned,” Crosby said. “It’s now time — past time — to take that knowledge and have a very applied science program.”

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said red tide was the top concern she heard from voters during the recent election. She said lawmakers need to address the issue now before it fades from the public spotlight.

“Be proactive before it goes away and we have to be reactive again years later when it comes back,” Whitmore said.

Members of Manatee County’s legislative delegation have pledged to make addressing red tide a priority in the 60-day legislative session. State Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, already has filed a bill that would require septic tanks to be inspected every five years to determine if they are failing and leaching algae-feeding pollution.

“Folks are fed up with this issue and they want action,” Robinson said after the meeting.

Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said he has been working to tackle the red tide problem for many years, since back when he was in the House and Jeb Bush was governor.

“It’s something that’s always been important to me,” he said.

Galvano believes red tide became “really politicized” during the recent election.

“I think some of the acute reaction to our current very long bout with red tide was fueled by the political process,” he said. “Having said that, it’s still a major impact on our economy.”

Galvano said he is “very much in favor of something like” the consortium Crosby is proposing.

“Those issues aren’t going away,” Galvano said. “They’re important to me and I think they’re on the right track” with the consortium.

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