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Crist proposal would slash red tide funding

By Michael Peltier (Contact)

Sunday, September 16, 2007

TALLAHASSEE — After struggling for money every year, Kumar Mahadevan finally thought he could stop worrying so much.

After all, the Legislature earlier this year included $5 million for red tide research in its recurring budget.

That meant Mahadevan, the president of the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, could more confidently count on a steady stream of state revenue to study the phenomena that has particularly plagued the southern Gulf Coast during the past several years.

Likewise, researchers at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg also were relieved to know that money for red tide studies would join other programs that could rely on recurring revenue to pay for salaries, maintenance and other ongoing expenses.

That confidence may be short-lived. When lawmakers return in October to balance the budget, the two research centers again will have to sweat it out.

That’s because Gov. Charlie Crist has recommended that lawmakers during a special session cut the $5 million of red tide money for this year as they attempt to pare $1 billion off the top in response to lower than expected revenues.

Red tide is a bloom of naturally occurring algae that releases toxins that kill fish and aquatic mammals. It causes respiratory irritation in humans. Red tides have been recorded in Florida since the 1840s but are occurring more frequently, lasting longer and causing more problems.

“We hope that the cuts don’t happen because this is too important a project for the west Florida community,” Mahadevan said. “The hotbed of red tide is from Collier County to Pasco County (near Tampa). It’s a public health issue and it is also an economic downer.”

Mote is slated to receive about $2 million for its red tide program.

Another $2 million is going to the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the state’s lead agency in the fight against the aquatic killer. The remaining $1 million is available for control and mitigation grants.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had proposed a $2 million cut to red tide related programs, with $850,000 coming from mitigation programs and a $1.2 million cut in direct monitoring research funds.

“While we believe those (monitoring) funds are critical of our understanding for red tide, they were determined to be of lesser priority because they went into a more detailed investigation and expanded our existing program,” said Wendy Quigley, a spokeswoman for the research institute.

Deeper cuts would be more problematic, Quigley said.

Mote scientists have been using detectors to gauge red tide by measuring how water absorbs light. The center recently purchased five more units, called BreveBusters, but likely would have to mothball them temporarily for lack of funds.

“It’s nice to have the technology but it takes money to use them,” Mahadevan said.

Last year, the Research Institute was awarded a five-year, $4.73 million federal grant to conduct research on nutrients and Florida’s red tide.

Quigley said that research would continue regardless of what happens with state funding.

The quicker scientists can come up with answers, the quicker a strategy may be developed to minimize red tide effects, which would quickly repay the costs of any research by an economic boom to the tourist industry, lawmakers say.

The issue also has caught the attention of the Congressional delegation, whose Southwest Florida members are pushing for more federal money to study the issue.

“Everyone agrees that red tide research is important and I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to promote this vital issue,” said U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers.

Local delegates expressed their hope Crist would look elsewhere to make cuts, but acknowledged that at a time of tight budgets, nothing is safe.

“I’m disappointed that this is an area that we have to take a look at,” said Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples. “Having said that, there are a number of important programs that will have to face cuts’’ because of revenue shortfalls.

Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, and chairwoman of the House Environmental Protection Committee, said the governor was making a mistake to target red tide funds.

“If you’re interested in keeping tourism alive in this state you’ve got to address red tide,” Williams said. “People come here for our beaches and $5 million is a drop in the bucket for red tide research.”

Until they hear differently, red tide researchers say they will continue to press on as lawmakers take Crist’s proposal under consideration in the weeks ahead.

“The governor has put forth his recommendations,” Quigley said. “Until the Legislature decides, we don’t know the answer.”

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