Understanding Florida's Harmful Algal Blooms with Dr. James Sullivan

May 31, 2021

Florida is in a deep trouble on water quality

This week, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham welcome Dr. James Sullivan back to the show to discuss the condition of Florida's harmful algal blooms, most notably Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and Karenia brevis (red tide). Dr. James Sullivan — nicknamed "Dr. Doom of the Algal Bloom" by his wife — is a leading algal researcher and Executive Director of Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.  He currently serves on the Governor's Blue-Green Algae Task Force, As the state faces a warmer and wetter future,  that many believe conditions will worsen and blooms and their impacts will be worse.  And, there are no sick or easy answers. He walks us through the science, the risks, and how to understand our changing coastal waters. Great show only on ASPN!

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Peter Ravella & Tyler Buckingham

Peter and Tyler joined forces in 2015 and from the first meeting began discussing a project that would become Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network. At the time, Peter and Tyler were coastal consultants for Pete’s firm, PAR Consulting, LLC. In that role, they worked with coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, engaged in grant writing, coastal project development, shoreline erosion and land use planning, permitting, and financial planning for communities undertaking big beach restoration projects. Between and among their consulting tasks, they kept talking and kept building the idea of CNT & ASPN. In almost every arena they worked, public engagement played a central role. They spent thousands of hours talking with coastal stakeholders, like business owners, hotel operators, condo managers, watermen, property owners, enviros, surfers, and fishermen. They dived deep into the value, meaning, and responsibility for the American shoreline, segment-by-segment. Common threads emerged, themes were revealed, differences uncovered. There was a big conversation going on along the American shoreline! But, no place to have it. That's where CNT and ASPN were born.