A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Matthew McPherson, Mandy Karnauskas, Suzana Blake

  • This collection was created during the 2017-2018 red tide event that had major ecosystem impacts on the west coast of Florida. Fish harvesters and related businesses suffered major setbacks during this time. Fishers, with a long history on the water and oftentimes second or third generation involved in the fishing business, reminisce about how the ecosystem has changed during their and their families time and the red tides they have witnessed. The collection provides information on species affected, specific areas affected, as well as discussions related to adaptation behaviors and specific business impacts.

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Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Rodney Raffield A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Rodney Raffield is a former stone crab fisherman and seasoned fishing guide with a 12-year charter fishing career. He comes from a family background in the stone crab industry and has extensive experience navigating the waters around Lostmans River and Cape Sable. Rodney has witnessed sporadic red tide events throughout his fishing history and offers valuable insights into their impact on marine life.

Scope and Content Note

 Suzana Blake Everglades City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Rick Waite and Tom Olyanarnyk A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Rick Waite and Tom Olyanarnyk are commercial fishermen from Cortez. Their earliest memories of a Red Tide event was during the 1970s, where they witnessed a bad fish kill mostly affecting crabs. 

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson, Christina Package-Ward Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Richard Wahrenberger A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Richard Wahrenberger is the owner of City Seafood, a restaurant and seafood market in Everglades City. The only Red Tide event he has personally noticed was when he lived in Madeira Beach, some 50 years ago. He generally believes that Red Tide doesn't occur near Everglades City.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Everglades City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Ralph Andrew A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Ralph Andrew is a seasoned fisherman based in Florida. He has witnessed and experienced multiple red tide events throughout his life, leading him to advocate for stricter regulations to protect the environment from pollution and its devastating consequences.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz, Karla Gore Fort Myers, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Paul Reeves A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Paul Reeves, is a red grouper commercial fisherman from Steinhatchee, Florida.

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson Steinhatchee, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Paul Moore A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Paul Moore is a local Cortez stone crabber. Moore has been fishing and stone crabbing in the Cortez area since the 1970s. Moore started stone crabbing in 1980, joining his family's stone crab restaurant business. He primarily worked on crab and lobster boats for the first 15 years after high school. He began running his own boat in 1991.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Patrick Gould A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Captain Gould has been backwater fishing for 25 years. He charters approximately 250 trips a year. He also fishes along the beach and up to five or six miles nearshore. He fished offshore briefly from ’95 to ‘99.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Naples, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Nick Ruland A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Nick Ruland is a fish house owner who has been in Fort Myers Beach for 30 years. He thinks we should involve fishers in water testing and wants an emergency reduction of the grouper quota.

Scope and Content Note:

 Amanda Stoltz Fort Myers Beach, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Nate Meschelle A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Nate Meschelle is a young commercial fisherman based out of Cortez. Nate embarked on a full-time fishing career at a young age, honing his skills in various fisheries such as lady fish, jack, and pompano. He is not only experienced in navigating the waters and understanding the ecosystem but also an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable fishing practices, actively engaging in activities like clam release and promoting initiatives to mitigate the impact of human activities on marine life.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Mike Davis A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Mike Davis is a commercial fisherman residing in Cortez.

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
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