A local “Hands Across the Sand” gathering in solidarity will take place at noon, June 25 on Siesta Key Beach between the pavilion and the tennis courts. “Hands Across the Sand” is a movement with events around the country to raise awareness about the dangers of offshore drilling and to call on leaders to [...]
A meeting of U.S., Mexican and Cuban scientists wrapped up Wednesday at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota with an outline for a formal plan of action designed to better the health of the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean through a collaborative approach to management and conservation issues.
Local fishermen on the Suncoast are still looking for oil, and seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is being closely monitored. The Food and Drug Administration is working to closely monitor the oil and its potential impact on the safety of seafood harvested from the area. The FDA says the public should not be concerned about the safety of seafood in stores, and fish and shellfish are safe to eat.
Three sea turtles rescued from oily waters near Louisiana and given follow-up care at Mote Marine Laboratory were released Aug. 18, in oil-free waters near Cedar Key in Levy County, Fla.
Town Manager Bruce St. Denis sits at the helm of the Town of Longboat Key. His mission is twofold; on one hand, St. Denis must help the Commission form policy through making recommendations, offering alternatives and providing information. The other daily task is managing the Town’s day-to-day operations.
Mote Marine Laboratory, in collaboration with The National Aquarium and Johns Hopkins University, is conducting a comprehensive study designed to ensure that the pre- and post-Deepwater Horizon oil spill impact status of Sarasota Bay is documented as rigorously as possible.
At the invitation of Commodore Lou Sanandres, I’m at the Bird Key Yacht Club. We’re here for a presentation by staff of the Mote Marine Laboratory on the impact of the oil spill (well blowout) on the Gulf. A crowd of about 76 club members and guests was in attendance to hear Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, Mote’s manager of environmental programs. Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, Mote’s president, is on hand and adds to the discussion. The ‘old’ clubhouse is a fine place. I’ve been a guest here off and on for almost 30 years. Things fortunately don’t change much.
Mote has recently been getting inquiries from the public asking whether the darkened blobs they’re seeing on some Southwest Florida beaches is oil washing in from the Gulf of Mexico due to the Deepwater Horizon oilrig blowout. Rest assured: It is not. Believe it or not, these amorphous blobs are actually living organisms called tunicates, [...]
At least two Longboat Key town commissioners castigated the oil spill response plan produced by Town-hired consultants Coastal Planning & Engineering at Monday’s Town Commission meeting.
We sat down in the cool conference room off the Town Commission Chambers in Town Hall on a mid-week afternoon. This was my chance to interview Bruce St. Denis, our long-time town manager. I noted less tension than in some of our infrequent earlier talks. My opening observation that I would rather be a city manager than a city councilman was met by Bruce’s quick reply, “So would I.” I was prompted by that great folk lyric, “I’d rather be a hammer than a nail.”
