Roundtable looks to stem tide

Rep. Vern Buchanan meets with leaders from Manatee and Sarasota counties to discuss actions to lesson red tide’s impact on the region in the future and to ensure more help comes from the federal government.

As red tide continued to grip the beaches of the Suncoast, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan met March 17 with leaders of Manatee and Sarasota counties to compile their feedback and discuss future actions.

Charlie Hunsicker, the director of Manatee County Natural Resources, told Buchanan at the Beach House on Bradenton Beach that he has been a great help in the past.

“When you started, you were right there with us on a flood control project — Ware’s Creek,” Hunsicker said in a release. “Flooding had an impact on water quality.”

Buchanan is trying to get more federal support for damages caused by red tide.

In January, Buchanan introduced the Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act. The bill, which would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, would designate red tide as a major disaster. The change would require the Federal Emergency Management Administration to provide both technical and financial assistance to states suffering from outbreaks of red tide.

Besides Hunsicker, other Manatee County leaders attending the roundtable were Manatee County commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge, James Satcher, Amanda Ballard, Mike Rahn and Jason Bearden.

“On the Suncoast, we rely on clean water and white, sandy beaches to support our economy and our way of life,” Buchanan said in a statement. “Red tide has wreaked havoc on marine life, our waters and the many businesses that rely on Florida’s tourism-based economy.”

Longboat Key Major Ken Schneier said his town has the desire to act as a model community in terms of combatting red tide and ensuring clean waters. He asked for recommendations for how the town could reach that goal.

Those who attended were in agreement on one thing: New steps need to be taken to combat red tide and keep it from worsening.

“Florida’s economy is built on the coast,” said Ed Chiles, the founder of Chiles Hospitality. “We are seeing harmful algal blooms and water quality issues come more often, longer and stronger.”

The importance of local estuaries to the area in terms of water quality and recreation was at the forefront of discussion as well.

“We have a responsibility to be the stewards of those estuaries,” Chiles