Gov. DeSantis signs Naples bill to continue Red Tide Tech program.
At a press event near Naples on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to continue a red tide research and technology effort.
He announced it at the Naples Botanical Garden before writing, according to a recent article by Laura Layden of Naples Daily News.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory are partnering on the project.
State-created in 2019, the program was set to expire on June 30, 2025. However, the bill allows indefinite continuation.
To combat red tide, the effort will “develop, test, and implement innovative, effective and environmentally sustainable technologies and approaches”.
According to a bill summary analysis, program money has allowed Mote to “examine more than 300 chemicals and compounds,” and establish field-testable research projects.
The governor emphasized that millions had been invested in the program. Its $3 million annual state funding comes from the general fund since its creation.
“We consider this a notable effort,” DeSantis added.
He warned that “you can’t just be dumping things” into the Gulf of Mexico or other coastal waters to stop red tide’s expansion to Florida’s shoreline, so investigation and testing are needed to minimize further harm.
“Sometimes, side effects can be worse,” DeSantis said. “Of course, you don’t want to do that.”
Desantis said red tide can’t be eliminated because it’s natural and has no “off switch.”
New research and technologies could restrict its spread and clear it up faster, reducing environmental and economic costs, he said.
Human respiratory problems and fish deaths can result from red tide.
DeSantis recalled the 2018 blooms that prompted then-Gov. Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency in 14 counties, including Collier and Lee.
The bill summary states that fish stocks from Anna Maria Island near Tampa Bay to Ten Thousand Islands recovered over several years. Tourism losses in the state were estimated at $184 million.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and Captains for Clean Water commissioned a research that revealed 2018’s events could cost more in 2024 or 2025.
The bill requires Mote Marine to recommend field trials of promising science-based technologies in state waters and submit its findings to state agencies like the Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
DEP would implement and test the technologies using Mote and speed up regulatory processes for successful ones.
Florida isn’t just extending the research and technology initiative to reduce algal blooms.
DeSantis hasn’t signed off on next year’s budget, but he’ll support more expenditure to bring the state’s red tide and blue-green algae management and mitigation efforts to over $125 million since becoming governor in January 2019.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection secretary Shawn Hamilton called DeSantis America’s conservation governor.
“It’s important to make steady gains towards protecting and conserving irreplaceable natural resources – not just today, but forever,” he stated. “Florida has a long history as a national leader in conservation, which is crucial to environmental protection and economic prosperity. The governor’s bold vision and the Legislature’s ongoing support have quickened our pace.”
He remarked, “That’s a big investment.”
DeSantis also mentioned a law he signed this month that provided $100 million for the Florida Wildlife Corridor at the news conference.
Since 2021, the Florida Wildlife Corridor has covered over 18 million acres. State parks, forests, and family farms provide 10 million acres of conservation.
The wildlife corridor protects adjacent waters and lands in Southwest Florida.
“Outdoor recreation in the state of Florida generates over $52 billion in economic output, and our Florida state parks alone have an economic impact of $3.6 billion, and it supports more than 50,000 jobs total,” he stated. This is significant. We know it’s vital to the state.”
DeSantis has requested that the Florida Department of Transportation continue to erect wildlife crossings alongside state roads to safeguard endangered animals like the Florida panther.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News
