This article is a stub. It will be completed within either several hours or a few days. Please check it out then.
A lot has changed in the political landscape of Florida since this blog began. We’ve had several huge and lasting red tide blooms in several Florida spots, some of them lasted years. Florida Red Tide got some attention and funding from the Federal Government (This site had a part to play in that). Florida also gave themselves a new Governor. These combined big change shave result in some small, but very real changes in Florida’s handling of Red Tide.
This page will describe what the red tide political scene was when this site began and what it is now. Perhaps a little more footnotes along the way.
We’ve went from a situation that could be described as this (from an article written in the middle of our third year , I think):
However despite several Florida government sponsored organizations and the Government of Florida themselves insistently repeating that:
- Red Tide Is Not on the increase
- The evidence suggests there is no link between fertilizer polluted run-off and red tide
This web site and other organizations have learned:
- Red Tide is definitely on the increase, here’s just one study with evidence of that. Look throughout this site there are more.
- The Evidence actually suggest there is a link between red tide and fertilizer-laden runoff. Here’s one study with evidence of that, Again, look throughout this site or do a search with your favorite search engine, you’ll find more.
- Further we note, as others have, that it seems that our top scientific research organizations and our state government is colluding to make sure new research in this area isn’t started, or doesn’t address the relevant questions involved.
The Government of Florida as knowingly and intentionally and repeatedly lied about these two things and probably more. Here’s just an example of them being caught red handing lying about the connection between red tide and pollution. Again look through this web site, there are more.
Back in the 00′s when we started this organization, it seemed the official policy on red tide mirrored the larger political picture, deny there’s a problem, discredit critics and falsify the science and distort the evidence. Things were already very polarized, politically, by a war and two contested Presidential and a few Congressional elections. On every level of Politics from the Federal government to the local townships, people were at odds with their government and sometimes, vilified by certain political groups or political celebrities. sorta like today, just not as “ratcheted up”
We’re happy to say that this attitude is toned down quite a bit. There has been a shift in priorities. While there is still much to do, our government now seems content give the subject positive lip service, but still really hasn’t produced any results.
Besides the change of tone, there have been a few shining examples of local governments within Florida and Florida citizens banning together and circumventing the states resistance to do anything about red tide.
Several counties have passed ordinance that limit the amount of fertilizer that gets in the waterways. Sadly, they aren’t the counties that are responsible for the overwhelming majority of the fertilizer. That would the farm counties, in the inland areas of the state. Time will tell if this limited, limiting approach will work.
There were two large federal grants dedicated to the study and cure of red tide during the last decade. Both of them have been funneled to contribute little to nothing to increase the prevention of new red tides, mitigate existing red tides, or determine any new link between pollutants and red tide or disprove the existing science on the issue…
Red tide keeps returning to Florida’s waters every year (well above historical rates). While Florida has been spared a major red tide outbreak for several years now, Texas Red Tide and Maine Red Tide have been on the increase.
