© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

FWC To Partner With Red Tide Experts

red tide
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is partnering with red tide experts to combat the destructive algae ravaging the state’s Gulf coast. 

Scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of South Florida and the Department of Environmental Protection are hoping to mitigate the effects of red tide stretching from Naples to the panhandle.

Researchers will experiment with a specialized clay that studies have shown could counteract the algae’s effects.

The state has given $13 million to South Florida communities crippled by red tide and toxic blue-green algae.

Beaches remain empty as officials clean millions of pounds of dead fish from the shores and tourism grinds to a standstill.

FWC is now reporting red tide in Northwest Florida. Blooms are off the coast of Santa Rosa and Gulf counties with moderate concentrations in Bay County.

The environment has been a contentious issue in this year’s elections. Governor Rick Scott, a candidate for Senate, has faced criticism over his policies and response to the crisis. Protestors gathered outside a campaign event in Naples this week shouting “Red Tide Rick.”

Shawn Mulcahy is a reporter and All Things Considered host for WFSU. He graduated from Florida State University in 2019 with majors in public relations and political science. He was previously an intern at WFSU, and worked as an Account Coordinator at RB Oppenheim Associates.