The Sunshine City and its sparkling waterfront parks recently became the center of Tampa Bay's red tide crisis. Rafts of dead fish were washing ashore quickly, and workers picked up tons of dead marine life from the coastline in recent weeks.
Scientists continue to detect high levels of Red Tide through the bay and in the gulf, with no sign of immediate relief on the horizon. "It's here. It's bad. And there's not much we can do other than make sure we're all communicating well," Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Director Eric Sutton told the Tampa Bay Times. "There's no signs that necessarily it's going to be coming to an end soon, but I've learned enough not to try to predict Red Tide either."
Innovation District member, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have established a page dedicated to obtaining more information about the Red Tide. Visit Red Tide FAQ | FWC (myfwc.com)
There were several accomplishments in 2024 we haven't had a chance to share yet. Thank you to our anchor institutions and partners that made this possible. 1st major grant - $13.9M NOAA 1st District Master Plan 2nd District Impact Report published 3rd year of the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub
2025 marked the 11th year for the St. Petersburg Science Festival and the 30th year for Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's MarineQuest. It was a fantastic opportunity for 1200+ 4th and 5th graders on School Days and 9K+ community members on the Public Day to participate in hands-on activities exploring all facets of STEAM. Kudos to the sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and Steering Committee for another successful year.