Statement: Red Tide Prevention Lacking

STATEMENT FROM FCV DEPUTY DIRECTOR JONATHAN WEBBER ON GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS’ RED TIDE ROUNDTABLE IN ST. PETERSBURG

“Governor DeSantis is following Red Tide Rick Scott’s footsteps by allowing corporate polluters to treat our state as a dumping ground. Red tide, blue-green algae, and other toxic water pollution plague our state year after year, and Floridians can’t afford it any longer. After decades of research and studies, we know what to do to reduce these toxic blooms; what’s lacking is the political will to get it done. From rising temperatures caused by the climate crisis to unchecked agricultural and fertilizer runoff polluting our waterways, corporate polluters run rampant, and taxpayers foot the bill. Sadly, the Governor has allowed these threats to continue by refusing to push for stronger pollution laws that will keep our waters and beaches beautiful. Instead of fantasizing how to ‘nuke blue-green algae’ after it’s already a problem, the Governor should prevent corporate polluters from fueling these disasters in the first place.”