Washington, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Jeff Watters, director of government relations at Ocean Conservancy, in response to today’s passage of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019 (H.R.335) to direct the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to assess potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms in South Florida and submit a plan, based on that assessment, for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms in the region.

“Passage of this legislation is great news for all Floridians. Red Tide and other harmful algal bloom events have decimated important ecosystems in South Florida. Last year was a record year for algal blooms in Florida, with warmer conditions, nutrient pollution and more extreme weather projected to cause more frequent blooms in the future.”

“It is vital that we work to better understand the causes of these events – especially the human contributions – so we can work toward mitigating and reducing them.”

“We thank Representatives Brian Mast (R-FL), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), and Michael Waltz (R-FL) for sponsoring this legislation and encourage the Senate to take up and pass this bill for the benefit of all Floridians.”

###

Jeff Watters is available for interviews upon request.

About Ocean Conservancy:

Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.