Governor’s Red Tide Task Force Gathers Top Scientists

The Red Tide Task Force was set up by Governor DeSantis to provide recommendations to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and state and local legislatures on Red Tide remediation.

The task force has played a vital role in determining strategies to research, monitor control and mitigate red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida waters. The task force complements the work done by the governor’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force and the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative, which is the partnership between the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute within FWC and Mote Marine Laboratory.

DeSantis was quoted as saying, “My administration will continue to press forward to find solutions and empower our brightest minds to help protect our environment. The issues of Red Tide are complex, but with the appointments of these leading scientists and researchers, we hope to make a difference.”

The Red Tide Task Force consists of some of the state’s top environmental scientists looking to provide fact-based research to restore and protect Florida’s fresh and marine waters. The members of the task force include scientists, zoologists, and administrators from several agencies including the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Through their efforts, the Red Tide Task Force hopes to improve the current policies and procedures, enhance the communication among stakeholders charged with responding to harmful algal blooms, and better research the biology creating the harmful algae blooms.

Further Reading:
Harmful Algal Bloom/Red Tide Task Force
Florida Beach Condition Reports