This week, Florida’s two U.S. senators–Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott–urged the U.S. Commerce Department to approve the state of Florida’s request for a “federal fishery resource disaster declaration as a result of recent significant and persistent red tide events off Southwest Florida’s coast.”
The two senators wrote U.S. Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross on the matter on Wednesday. The letter was as follows:
We write in full support of the state of Florida’s request for a federal fishery resource disaster declaration as a result of recent significant and persistent red tide events off Southwest Florida’s coast. Southwest Florida’s economy is strongly tied to the state of its coastal waters and fisheries. Residents and tourists alike contribute to the economic bounty of the region’s waters through chartered fishing trips and the enjoyment fresh-caught seafood and locally-harvested aquaculture products.
Unfortunately, successive red tide events in recent years have destroyed valuable fisheries stocks and depressed interest in guided angling and charter fishing opportunities. In particular, stone crab harvests – a Southwest Florida specialty – have seen some of the worst years in recent memory. As a result, many commercial and charter fishermen have suffered substantial economic losses and have had to radically change their business practices just to survive.
Southwest Florida’s coasts have provided an important source of opportunity for generations of families who have built their livelihoods on these productive waters. To best support these working families in their time of need following the recent significant and persistent red tide events, we ask for your assistance in promptly fulfilling the state of Florida’s request for a federal fishery resource disaster declaration. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
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Gerald L Butler
June 2, 2019, 6:35 am at 6:35 am
As a Marine Biologist and a serious Stone Crab Fisherman for the past 25 years, I would like to verify that the resource in the Pine Island area had decreased by 60% each year for 3 years, then totally collapsed last year. I am living on credit now and don’t know what the future holds for others like me in this immediate area.
Stone Crabs unlike Blue Crabs and Fish, cannot swim to escape oxygen depleted areas or swim to the surface for air. Stone Crabs have a very short larval stage and settle quickly to the bottom as juveniles.
Our fishery is doomed if the government does not stop the over the top release of polluted water from Lake O which feeds the red tide and is laden with other poisons.