TAMPA, FL – With reports this week showing red tide is coming back with a vengeance [map here], Ocean Conservancy and The Florida Aquarium teamed up to save Tampa Bay’s precious waters.

The “Our Bay, Our Future” event is designed to create a new vision and determine solutions to improve the health of Tampa Bay. World renowned experts came together at The Florida Aquarium on Wednesday evening to discuss red tide, water quality issues and what can be done to mitigate the threats. Nearly 200 people attended the event and many were able to ask the experts their questions.

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“With Hurricane Ian and then Nicole, we saw firsthand how runoff can impact our oceans and feed red tide, killing fish and wildlife,” said Jon Paul “J.P.” Brooker, Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Florida Conservation. “But we believe that with innovation and teamwork, we can improve our water quality, and protect the beauty of Tampa Bay and all Floridian ecosystems for generations to come.”

“We are proud to partner with Ocean Conservancy and have The Florida Aquarium serve as a center for collaboration to solve some of our region’s most pressing conservation challenges,” said The Florida Aquarium President and CEO Roger Germann. “Part of The Florida Aquarium’s mission is to educate and connect with the community, and this is another exciting way to engage our community in conservation first-hand.”

This was an opportunity for all the stakeholders—including concerned citizens—to come together in the same room to better understand the challenges and discover opportunities that can be immediately implemented to improve the water quality of Tampa Bay for generations to come. The event is the third in a series of panels hosted by Ocean Conservancy.

Panel Members

Savanna Christy – Executive Director, Keep Florida Beautiful

Tom Frazer, Ph.D. – Dean, USF College of Marine Science

Kate Hubbard, Ph.D. – Director, FWC Center for Red Tide Research

Debborah Luke, Ph.D. – Senior Vice President of Conservation, The Florida Aquarium

Captain Dustin Pack – Charter Captain, Fly Tide Charters and Board Member, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper

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About Ocean Conservancy

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