Water quality issues have plagued Florida's coastline for the past couple of decades from thick algal mats that smother seagrass beds to harmful algal blooms (HABs) that kill thousands of ocean animals and cause breathing problems for people. Florida's economy is paying the price.
I talk about the consequences of these events on commercial and recreational fishing, job loss, property values, and outdoor recreation. Discover why controlling water quality is crucial for Florida's future and how it can positively influence the economy. Listen in as I discuss the importance of addressing water quality issues and their connection to climate change. Subscribe to the Ocean Talk podcast for more episodes on ocean conservation and protecting our precious marine ecosystems.
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Andrew discusses the water quality issues in Florida and how it is impacting the local economy. The episode begins with the host reminiscing about his childhood trips to Florida and how the water quality has changed over the years. He mentions major water quality problems, such as red tide events and algal blooms, which have caused sickness and the death of marine animals.
The host explains that these water quality issues are primarily caused by the release of nutrients, such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate, into Lake Okeechobee by industries. Initially, there were regulations in place to control these releases, but Governor Scott relaxed the regulations, relying on industries to use best practices. However, this led to an increase in nutrient levels and more frequent algal blooms.
The situation worsened when Big Sugar purchased land near the Everglades, causing the water to be diverted into rivers that eventually flowed into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. This concentrated the nutrients and exacerbated the algal blooms along the coast. The host emphasizes the negative impact of these events on recreational activities, fishing, and the local economy.
The podcast mentions that Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged the water quality issue and promised to address it by increasing water quality monitoring stations. However, it is unclear if any further regulations or actions have been taken to improve water quality.
To quantify the economic impact of poor water quality, several organizations commissioned a study by Green Economics. The study revealed that harmful water quality events and degraded water quality in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties would result in significant economic losses. These losses include over $468 million in commercial and recreational fishing, 43,000 jobs, $5.2 billion in local economic output, $17.8 billion in property values, $60 million in property tax revenue, and $8.1 billion in the value of outdoor recreation.
Andrew concludes by emphasizing the importance of controlling water quality, as it is something that can be regulated and controlled by industries. He suggests that reducing nutrient levels through water quality models and practices can help mitigate the negative impacts on the environment and the economy.
Overall, the episode highlights the connection between water quality, climate change, and the local economy in Florida, emphasizing the need for action to protect and improve water quality.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Water quality issues in Florida
05:15 Big Sugar and the Everglades
06:27 Harmful algal blooms
09:37 Harmful algal blooms and economy
