People gather in Tampa to raise awareness of the red tide

TAMPA, Florida – Red tide warnings are still posted on almost every beach in Pinellas County. Given mounting frustration over washing up dead fish, some residents have brought their concerns to the town hall and plan to continue until changes are made.

Dozens of people gathered on Sunday to raise awareness about the environmental impact of the red tide in our region. Your Goal: Let people know what is going on in their backyard.

“I think everyone in Florida wants the same thing,” said Jackson Tenney, a speaker at an organized rally. “We only want clean water, we just want to protect our environment.”

Tenney and others pointed at the Tampa Bay area phosphate plants. Sewage leaks were detected at the former Piney Point facility in Manatee County earlier this spring.

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Officials decided to pump millions of gallons of nutrient-rich sewage into Tampa Bay to avert a devastating collapse of the site, but environmentalists have since blamed that water for some kind of fuel for the recent red floods.

“Nobody here worries about what happens naturally,” said Tenney. “We just don’t want Florida to be destroyed.”

Several groups have come together in solidarity. Stefanie Hinton moderates a Facebook group called “Stop Red Tide St. Pete”. She said there was no single way to address the problems in the region.

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“This is a very complex problem – and there is no answer to it,” said Hinton. “Phosphate mining is very dangerous for Florida. Not getting the phosphate out, but the waste that is left behind.”

When asked what needs to happen to improve conditions, Hinton said federal regulations should change.

“Getting the EPA to update regulations to think ahead,” said Hinton. “The health of our people is essentially the health of the state of Florida.”

Recent reports have shown a link between manatee deaths and the red tide. Local fisherman Bradley Johnson said he saw dead manatees on the waters.

RELATED: Red Tide is believed to be the cause of manatee death in the Tampa Bay area

“For the past month, I’d say this is the worst red tide I’ve ever seen,” said Johnson. “There are dead manatees, it’s disgusting. I can’t even breathe.”

For those who live near the beach, the red tide has an impact on their health. Kim Shaw Elliot lives on Belleair Beach.

“There are days when I can’t go to the end of my street because I cough when I approach,” said Elliott. “The waters are not as clear as they used to be. So these incredible natural resources that we have that are bringing people to this state and employing people across the state are at risk.”

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The post People gather in Tampa to raise awareness of the red tide first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

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