Florida Sea Grant’s interim director, Dr. Sherry Larkin, was recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to Florida’s newly reorganized Red Tide Task Force.
The group of 11 scientists and researchers will look at the causes of red tide in Florida. A type of harmful algal bloom, red tides have been occurring with increasing frequency in Florida. The blooms kill fish, deter recreation and tourism, and can be harmful to human health.
“The ongoing threats of HABs to our communities and economies cannot be overstated. This task force provides a unique opportunity to bring the expertise of diverse agencies and scientists together to simultaneously and collaboratively work on this issue for the benefit of our state. I’m both honored and hubled to participate and look forward to helping Governor DeSantis in this important water quality initiative.”
Dr. Larkin is a natural resource and environmental economist tenured in the Food and Resource Economics Department at University of Florida. She has been interim director at Florida Sea Grant since April 2019.
Florida Sea Grant is one of 34 university-based programs in the National Sea Grant College Program. Sea Grant programs provide research, education, and extension to address pressing coastal and marine issues.
To learn more about the Florida Red Tide Task Force, visit: “Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Appointments to the Red Tide Task Force” pdf.
To learn more about red tides and their impacts to coastal communities, visit: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_harmful_algal_blooms