Nutrients and Red Tide in Florida: State of the Science Symposium
Florida Sea Grant (FSG) and The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are pleased to convene a Nutrients and Red Tide in Florida: State of the Science Symposium. With funding by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s Harmful Algal Bloom Grant Program and at the request of the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Task Force, this 2.5 day symposium will occur April 21-23, 2025, at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg campus. Day one of the Symposium will begin at 1:00 pm to allow participants to travel after the Easter Holiday.
Symposium Topics
- Nutrient Dynamics across Bloom Stages
- Tracking Nutrients through Systems
- Management and Response
The purpose of this invitation-only symposium is to assess the current state of knowledge, to share updates on new findings and ongoing efforts, and to guide future management and research priorities addressing nutrients and red tide.
Objectives:
- Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue
- Synthesize the current state of knowledge and efforts and identify gaps regarding the role and contribution of nutrients in red tide events
- Identify and prioritize short- and long-term research needs and strategies
- Identify connections to local, regional, and state management policy interventions
A symposium white paper will be developed with the information generated during the 2.5-day symposium. The white paper will be used to inform Florida’s Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force and guide the state’s Harmful Algal Bloom Grant Program. The symposium will also be a great opportunity for networking within the Karenia brevis red tide professional community.
Symposium Team
Chair – Lisa Krimsky, UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant
Co-Chair – Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant
Facilitator – Joy Hazell, UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant
Steering Committee (SC) & Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members
Meghan Abbott, FWC-Fish & Wildlife Research Institute (SC)
Kristen Buck, Oregon State University & University of South Florida (SC)
Yesenia Escribano, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (SC)
Emily Hall, Mote Marine Laboratory (SC)
Katherine Hubbard, FWC-Fish & Wildlife Research Institute (TAC)
Nicole Iadevaia, Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Program (SC)
Angela Knapp, Texas A & M University (TAC)
Yonggang Liu, University of South Florida (TAC)
Michael Parsons, Florida Gulf Coast University (TAC)
Mark Rains, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
Ed Sherwood, Tampa Bay Estuary Program (SC & TAC)
Rhonda Watkins, Collier County (SC)
David Whiting, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (SC)
Presentations
Session 1: Nutrient Dynamics across Bloom Stages
Synthesis Presentations
Nutrient Dynamic across Bloom Stages: A historical synthesis
Cynthia Heil, Mote Marine Laboratory and Kate Hubbard, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
West Florida Shelf Nutrient and Isotopic Monitoring
Angela Knapp, TAMU College Station
Lighting Presentations
Karenia Nutrients in 5 Minutes
Pat Glibert, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Nutrients and Carbonate Chemistry Associated with HABs
Emily Hall, Mote Marine Laboratory
From the Seabed: Coastal Groundwater, Submarine Groundwater, and Benthic Exchange
Christopher Smith, U.S. Geological Survey
Trace Metals
Salvatore Caprara, Oregon State University
Session 2: Tracking Nutrients through Systems
Synthesis Presentation
Tracking Nutrients through Systems: A synthesis
Chris Anastasiou, Southwest Florida Water Management District
Lighting Presentations
Tracking Nutrients through the Piney Point Discharge Event
Marcus Beck and Ed Sherwood, Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Red Tide Duration and Nitrogen Loads
David Tomasko, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Complexities of Tracking Nutrients on the West Florida Coast: Hurricanes and Upwelling Events
Yonggang Liu, University of South Florida
Session 3: Management and Response
Synthesis Presentations
Legislative Responses to Red Tide
Jon Paul “J.P.” Brooker, Ocean Conservancy
DEP’s Water Quality Restoration Program
David Whiting, Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Lighting Presentations
FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy Agricultural Nutrient Management
Kathryn Holland, Office of Agricultural Water Policy, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Healing the Harbor: Nutrient mitigation strategies for an impaired estuary
Brandon Moody, Charlotte County Administration
Some Data Needs for Modeling Nutrient Loading Influence on Florida Karenia Blooms
Rick Bartleson, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation
Effect of Decomposing Fish in Prolonging Red Tide Events
Michael Parsons, Florida Gulf Coast University
