Latest news with #MoteMarineLaboratory
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
MOTE Marine Laboratory heads up seagrass initiative as other scientists call for water quality improvements
The Brief MOTE Marine Laboratory heads seagrass restoration technology development initiative. Funding comes from the Florida legislature after seagrass has declined across the state. Other scientists say more is needed, including storm and wastewater improvements. SARASOTA, Fla. - Seagrass plays a vital part in not only protecting Florida shorelines from erosion, but it also helps the underwater ecosystem thrive. In recent years, there has been a loss of seagrass across the state. The backstory Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota is trying to figure out how to stop this from happening. Seagrass is a breeding ground and protector for game fish. It's also a source of food for manatees and can help improve water quality. In areas across the state of Florida, seagrasses are disappearing. OTHER NEWS: Shark bite survivor's family, TGH doctors discuss 9-year-old's recovery: 'She's done a fantastic job' "We've seen stressors all across the state of Florida impacting our seagrass beds, which are so vital for our water quality, nursery grounds," said Kevin Claridge. Kevin Claridge is Mote Marine Laboratory's Vice President of Sponsored Research and Coastal Policy Program. He said Mote Marine Laboratory is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Florida in creating a 10-year Florida seagrass restoration plan. Big picture view "Specifically, the funding is looking at what those stressors are on those seagrass systems. Say it's nutrient change or acidification or less light or nutrient impacts," said Claridge. The Florida Legislature has approved $2 million dollars in funding to be awarded every year for 5 years for the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative. The hope is to find the most tolerant seagrasses that Mote Marine Laboratory and partners can grow for future restoration projects. "It's the first time ever really on an international scale. We are working with partners all over the world and what they are doing in planting technologies to understand that genetic makeup better, to help us understand which ones are growing faster," said Claridge. Sarasota Bay has seen big gains. In 2024, they witnessed a 19% increase in seagrass coverage. Dr. David Tomasko, the Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, said it happened after local governments worked on removing nutrients from the water. "None of that 2,000 acres came about by transplanting. It came about because the water quality improved because we spent $300 million improving water quality," he said. Tomako said while the science of growing seagrass is vital, additional funds allocated to wastewater upgrades and storm water retrofits should be considered. "We want both these things to happen. We want the science to move forward, but we also don't want elected officials in Tallahassee or Washington D.C. to take their eye off the ball, which is we can recover eco-system scale, but it will cost more than 10-20 million dollars," he said. He said without change, sea grass will continue to pay the price as Florida grows. "If you're not willing to, at the same time, devote enough resources for these big projects. Wastewater upgrades, storm water retrofits it doesn't understand how well you understand the seagrasses. They won't grow if the water quality is not good," said Tomasko. What's next Mote Marine Laboratory has completed a green house which will help them experiment on real world stressors to sea grass. They hope to identify seagrass types which are most resilient to outside changes. Scientists are also looking at genetic and genomic approaches to generate genetically resilient seagrass which could be natural reproduced in land-based nurseries. The Source: Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon from Mote Marine Laboratory and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. The Source FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon gathered the information for this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sarasota's Smart City Initiative recognized with international award
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Last month, the City of Sarasota was recognized by Smart Cities Connect with an international award for its Smart City Initiative, aimed at improving resiliency, connectivity, and safety. The city in partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory, monitors beach conditions including red tide in real time. Locals and visitors are able to access up-to-date data daily from 17 locations citywide. This can range from beach conditions and weather to the surf and crowd size at a beach. New affordable housing community in Winter Haven offers people a way out of homelessness As part of the initiative, the city also launched internet at four city parks. The Wi-Fi access is free to users at Arlington Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, Payne Park, and Bayfront Park. Officials say they saw a big uptick in usership following last years devastating hurricanes. The city has also been utilizing AI software at 16 intersections across the city, aimed at improving safety. The cameras give city officials real-time data 24/7 of how drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians make their way through each intersection. 'This system detects unsafe behaviors, like rolling stops, failure to yield, and improper use of crosswalks and bike lanes,' City Engineer Nikesh Patel said. 'This data helps us design safer intersections and make the smart improvements that protect everyone sharing the road. We can use this data to improve signal timing, signage, and intersection operations to encourage safe and legal crossing. We use this data to adjust signal striping, signage, and operation improvement to promote safer crossing. It also helps coordinate enforcement outreach with the Sarasota Police Department.' The technology at those 16 intersections can also communicate directly with drivers in newer cars equipped with certain technology. 'These roadside units send real time alerts to drivers when pedestrians, cyclists or scooters are detected ahead,' Patel explained. 'Our drive is to really save peoples lives and reduce the amount of serious crashes and fatalities throughout the city.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mote Marine's largest single snook release happens in waters of Sarasota
The Brief Recreational salt water fishing brings in around $10 million each year to the state of Florida. One of the top five sought-out species fishermen are looking to hook is snook. The 3,000 juvenile snook released into Phillippi Creek are a part of 28,000 snook that have been released throughout the last 2 weeks in Sarasota Bay. SARASOTA, Fla. - Recreational salt water fishing brings in around $10 million each year to the state of Florida. The backstory One of the top five sought-out species fishermen are looking to hook is snook. Every year, the snook population faces threats. Mote Marine Laboratory has been working for more than 20 years to make sure populations thrive. They've hit a record-breaking milestone this week. Taken out by buckets and released in Phillippi Creek. Juvenile snook gives Schloesser, the program manager for Fisheries, Ecology and Enhancement with Mote Marine Laboratory, hope. "Snook are susceptible to red tides and cold stuns that can cause mass mortality. There's also a lot of fishing pressure on snook. So we want to be able to release juvenile snook to keep those fisheries healthy," said Schloesser. The 3,000 juvenile snook released into Phillippi Creek are a part of 28,000 snook that have been released throughout the last 2 weeks in Sarasota Bay. Making it the largest release in the program's history. "It's really the culmination of not just the eight or nine months of rearing these fish, but it's the culmination of 10 years of effort to get to this point where we could put out such a large number of fish and help out our local fisheries," said Schloesser. Each release site is hand-picked for its conditions. They often include areas with mangrove-lined shorelines and protected coves with habitat and a food source for the growing snook. What they're saying "All of our tidal creek systems are really productive. These are natural nursery habitats for wild juvenile snook. We are kind of putting our hatchery snook in the right places that you would expect wild juveniles at this particular time at this particular size," he said. It can take between four and six years before the juvenile snook can be seen on your fishing line. Each one that navigates its way to adulthood is a promising sign for years and generations to come. "It's about having healthy ecosystems, and it's about having people being able to connect with the waters in their backyard," said Schloesser. The Source FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon did the interviews and research for the story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
USF researchers among first to identify viruses linked to red tide, which could help predict future blooms
The Brief Researchers at USF are among the first to identify viruses associated with red tide, which could help experts predict future blooms. Just last month, Mote Marine Laboratory officials were monitoring red tide on Lido Beach where plenty of dead fish had washed ashore. With these viruses identified, researchers can study how these viruses influence or affect Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Researchers at the University of South Florida are among the first to identify viruses associated with red tide, which could help experts predict future blooms. The USF team partnered with experts from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) to collect water samples containing red tide off the coast of southwest Florida. RELATED: Dead fish washing ashore on Lido Beach as Mote Marine Laboratory confirms red tide "We process the seawater samples in the lab, and we extract RNA and DNA from them to identify viruses associated with red tide blooms," scientific researcher Dr. Jean Lim told FOX 13. Dig deeper Red tide can kill fish and make humans sick. Just last month, Mote Marine Laboratory officials were monitoring red tide on Lido Beach where plenty of dead fish had washed ashore. With these viruses now identified, researchers can study how these viruses influence or affect Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "So whether [the virus] inhibits the growth of Karenia brevis or even kills Karenia brevis. So that is the next very challenging step," Lim said. Right now, experts rely on satellite imagery, water samples, and ocean circulation models to forecast the movement of red tide blooms. But, they're always looking for more tools to add to the toolbox. "We know that it is a recurring problem that's not going to go away," Lim said of red tide. What's next Moving forward, Lim and her team will study the extent these viruses could control red tide. For example, whether an increased number of certain viruses could suggest a red tide bloom is about to begin. READ:Mote Marine Laboratory sees a 70% kill rate during mitigation field testing "Basically, the goal is to create better approaches to be able to forecast Karenia brevis blooms," Lim said. Lim and her colleagues' study identifying viruses was recently published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSphere. The Source The information in this story was gathered through an interview with Dr. Jean Lim as well as the study published mSphere. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Pete City Council commits to not 'going backwards' on plastic straw ban
The Brief A St. Pete city council member introduced an agenda item to look at lifting an ordinance that banned single-use plastic straws back in 2018. He cited concerns over the legality of the ordinance following President Trump's executive order that ended the "forced use of paper straws." The issue brought dozens of St. Pete residents to city hall, none of whom were in favor of changing the city's ban. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Many in the St. Petersburg community thought the paper vs. plastic straw debate ended in 2018, because that's when the city passed an ordinance banning single-use plastic straws. However, the issue reignited on Thursday during a council meeting. St. Pete Council Member Corey Givens Jr. introduced an agenda item to look at lifting that ban. He cited concerns with the legality of it, following President Donald Trump's executive order ending the "forced use of paper straws." READ: Mote Marine Laboratory's Coral Gene Bank works to preserve coral species Local perspective The issue brought dozens of St. Pete residents back to city hall. None of them were in favor of changing the city's ban. They all spoke in favor of what the city did seven years ago, and many characterized relitigating the issue as a "waste of time." "This is on the right side of how we need to take better care of this earth," said one neighbor. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Others pointed to the positive impact it has had on the business community and how non-plastic straw technology has evolved. They voiced concerns about a healthy and clean environment, sustainability and the threats microplastics pose to marine life and humans alike. "In the seven years that have passed, microplastics have become more of a public health crisis in Tampa Bay, we know that trillions of microplastics exist in the environment- working their way up the food chain," said one speaker. The other side During some tense exchanges between council members, Givens spoke about his intentions on the ordinance. "It's pointless to have an ordinance that infringes on individual rights and civil liberties without having the conversation with the entire community," he said. MORE: You can eat these 5 invasive animals to help population control, US Fish & Wildlife Service says Attorneys for the city said that, legally, the president's executive order against the "forced use of paper straws" has no impact on the city's ordinance. "It speaks to federal use for procurement practices," an attorney for the city explained. Dig deeper Several local environmental groups have tacked the impact they've seen since the ban, with a 700% reduction in plastic straws removed from local waterways. No one on council supported revisiting the ban on plastic straws. "I am not willing to go backwards. This is a policy that needs to stay on our books," said St. Pete Council Member Brandi Gabbard. In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis left the use of plastic straws up to local governments, by vetoing a bill that sought to take that right from local municipalities. The Source The information in this story was gathered during a St. Pete city council meeting. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
