U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) scored a victory for the environment last week when his legislation to help fund the fight against the growth of harmful algae known as red tide recently passed the House as part of a government-funding appropriations package.
Toxic algae blooms cause $82 million in damage to the U.S. economy annually through losses to the seafood, restaurant and tourism industries, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Buchanan’s measure increases funding for NOAA by $8 million to provide additional resources to help control red tide. The toxin-producing algae has harmed marine life and hurt tourism in Florida beach communities. People who swim in water with red tide or eat contaminated shellfish can become ill.
“Southwest Florida is a beautiful, vibrant place to live and we need to address any threat to our pristine environment and way of life,” Buchanan said. “We need to understand more about the toxins in red tide so we can stop their damaging effects.”
Buchanan’s amendment was included in the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, an omnibus bill that funds the federal government for fiscal year 2018.
Dr. Michael P. Crosby, president and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, complimented Buchanan’s legislation. The funding will “significantly bolster the scientific community’s research to detect, respond to and develop innovative technologies to lessen the impacts from some of the country’s most challenging harmful algal blooms – red tide – on our environment, marine life and human health,” Crosby said.