On March 28, 2019, about 350 people attended the Pinellas County and City of Indian Rocks Beach Red Tide Summit in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.

Panel and audience at the Pinellas County Red Tide Summit, Indian Rocks Beach, FL, March 29, 2019. Credit Pinellas County and City of Indian Rocks Beach.

Invited panelists addressed the current scientific understanding and the economic and health issues red tide creates. The panel included NCCOS’ Dr. Rick Stumpf speaking on NCCOS red tide satellite remote sensing and forecasting, including an experimental red tide Respiratory Forecast and a new easy-to-use red tide monitoring tool called HABscope.

Two NCCOS sponsored researchers also served on the panel. Distinguished Professor Robert Weisberg (University of South Florida) spoke on how circulation and upwelling determine the location of red tide along SW FL with offshore initiation and bottom transport to the coast. Respected Research Scientist Kate Hubbard (Florida Fish & wildlife Conservation Commission) spoke on the biology and ecology of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, including its ability to bloom offshore under low nutrient conditions.

Dr. Rick Stumpf (NOAA NCCOS) speaks at the Pinellas County Red Tide Summit. Credit Pinellas County and City of Indian Rocks Beach.

Pinellas County officials came up with the idea for a public stakeholder summit after the devastating 2017-2018 red tide. The summit was live-streamed on Youtube.

View a video of the complete Red Tide Summit proceedings here.

For more information, contact Rick Stumpf.