Latest news with #FloridaRedTideMitigationandTechnologyDevelopmentInitiative
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mote Marine Laboratory sees a 70% kill rate during mitigation field testing
The Brief Two products developed by the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative called Clear and Xtreme were launched by Mote Marine Laboratory. The products produced a 70% kill rate of the red tide in two Venice canals, inspiring optimism from scientists. Scientists say they need to take this success and test the kill rates of more red tides in canals and waterways in Venice and the state. VENICE, Fla. - Dead fish floated along two canals in Venice as toxins from red tide kept residents inside. "One of the most impactful things was standing on the seawalls with the residents right next to where we were deploying," said Kevin Claridge, Mote Marine Laboratory's vice president for Sponsored Research and Coastal Policy Programs. READ: Florida Wingstop manager throws hot grease, ranch dressing at customers during argument The backstory After about five years of research, non-stop testing and finally receiving regulatory approval, Mote Marine Laboratory deployed two products from the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative. "Many of them were saying it was unbearable to be out and just sit on their patio and enjoy the nice day they were having because of the red tide," said Claridge. The products, called Clear and Xtreme, were developed by Mote Scientists Dr. Dana Wetzel, Dr. Richard Pierce and the Heartland Energy Group before being used in the canals. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "The two products we were working with are plant-based natural compounds. We devised a special deployment mechanism in partnership with a company that does oil spill and hazard waste cleanup," said Claridge. Dig deeper Testing started immediately, and the results were exciting. "A 70% kill rate of the Karenia brevis. That's a win for us. I think it's a pretty good suppression of Karenia. You won't completely knock it out of the water column, and we don't want to eliminate it from the natural environment, but you want to knock it back where it's causing the environment's ecological impacts," said Claridge. Mote Marine Laboratory's President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby said he didn't doubt what would happen. READ: Trial set to begin for woman whose car went airborne killing passenger "This stuff works and does no greater harm to the environment than the red tide is doing," said Crosby. What's next Mote Marine Laboratory has other products to deploy pending review and approval from the EPA. They're hoping to scale up deployment to an active bloom. "This won't be a success if we can only do a canal or two. We have to be able to really view this a little more as a military operation and being able to attack with deployment of these compounds and methods wherever that red tide is," said Crosby. The Source FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon collected the information in 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
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mote Marine Laboratory sees success in red tide mitigation deployment
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A red tide bloom has been impacting parts of Sarasota County, causing fish kills along some beaches. It's been bothersome to some beachgoers, but for the scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory, the bloom has given them an opportunity to bring their red tide mitigation tools from the lab out into the real world. St. Petersburg family left without AC for months, despite warranty 'Today is an important moment in the ongoing advancement of the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative,' said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote Marine Laboratory President & CEO. 'This is the first time these products and technologies have been deployed during an active Florida red tide bloom. We are transitioning from controlled laboratory studies and field testing of real-world red tide bloom applications to the next critical phase of this initiative, which focuses on engineering large-scale deployment technologies required to safely and effectively mitigate the impacts of harmful algal blooms in our coastal waters.' The two red tide-fighting products, which recently received regulatory approvals, were deployed in Venice canals that were being impacted by the bloom. The field testing brought new variables into play such as changing tides which the lab testing could not replicate. Sampling before and after the treatments showed a 70% kill rate of the karenia brevis organism. 'A 70% kill rate of the karenia brevis, that is a win for us,' said Kevin Claridge, Mote VP for Sponsored Research & Coastal Policy Programs. 'I think that is a pretty good suppression of. You are not going to ever completely knock it out of the water column, and we don't want to eliminate it from the natural environment, but you wanna knock it back where it is causing the environmental and ecological impacts.' About a dozen other mitigation products remain in the testing phase as they await the regulatory approvals needed for field deployment. 'We are excited about the next steps, more products, better efficacy, keep improving the technology, a great partnership with the state, appreciate all the regulatory approvals, a lot of steps along the way, a lot of questions, a lot of new ground plowed,' Claridge said. 'It really was a village that made this happen.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
