OUTDOORS

18 THE SUN OUTDOORS

My witness statement

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

I’ve been a resident of the Suncoast for 40 years. For 35 years of those years, I ran a contracting business and have seen firsthand the effects of harmful algae blooms on the environment and the economy. I have never been more concerned than I am today and fear we may be near a point of no return.

I believe that there is a real possibility that our coastal waters may be in the process of converting from a seagrass-based system with clean, vibrant waters to an algae-based system that supports very little life and creates milky green water.

This is an economic and environmental disaster in the making. We only have to look as far as The Indian River Lagoon on Florida’s east coast as a cautionary tale. Once one of the most vibrant ecosystems on Earth, manatees there are dying of starvation due to a lack of the seagrasses they graze on.

I am no scientist, but I have been fishing and recreating on Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Sound since I moved here in 1980, and can honestly say I fear for the future of our waters and the generations of future residents who will inherit the legacy of our inaction. I truly believe that this rises to the level of a “moral obligation.” I would encourage you to face this challenge. Let’s all work together to see that future generations have some of the same opportunities that we’ve had.

What can you do? Contact your elected officials (local and state) and demand action, write letters, attend commission meetings, join with groups like Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, don’t fertilize during the rainy season, keep yard clippings from our waterways and encourage your neighbors and friends to speak out.

The sad truth is that if we are silent, we will reap the unfortunate rewards. I’m reminded of a quote by the American Cultural Anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

The truth is that if we don’t, nobody will, and our children will inherit a world no one would wish for them. We can do this but only by acting, now, before it’s too late.

See a video of the state of the bay at: https://youtu.be/1kSCc_tddtc

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Lyngbya algae clogs Anna Maria Sound on May 27 near the Manatee Avenue bridge to Anna Maria Island.

Fishing’s fine

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

Things have been great around the Island this last week! We here at Anna Maria Charters have been spending a lot of time offshore.

American red snapper season just opened up and people are anxious to get out there. We’ve been getting the limit of two per angler on all of our trips, then adding red grouper, mangrove snapper and yellowtail to the box. Also popping up from time to time are the occasional cobia and blackfin tuna.

Inshore, the tarpon fishing is getting a little bit more consistent, with some larger schools on the beaches and in the passes. Also inshore, the redfish, snook, trout, Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper are showing up well. It’s not hard to achieve a dinner goal for clients looking to get a meal or two!

Andrew Healey, 8, of Winter Park, struggles to hold up his big red grouper caught with Captain David White of Anna Maria Charters.

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED

COMMISSION: Needs public input

FROM PAGE 15 to the future of the city, planning commissioners want to make sure that the voices of the public - including business owners, residents and other community members - are heard throughout the process. The problem is that the planning commission meetings aren’t well attended by the public, and with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic still hanging over everyone’s heads, it’s difficult to arrange a public workshop.

Representatives from LaRue Planning, the contractor helping to suggest amendments to the comprehensive plan for discussion, said they would work over the next month to bring back ideas to host a public workshop or some other forum to gain more public input.

While planning commission meetings can be viewed online through Zoom, comments are not allowed. To lend your voice to the comprehensive plan review, you have to either appear at a planning commission meeting in person or email your comments to the city clerk at cityclerk@holmesbeachfl. org. Planning commissioners meet at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month.

During their June meeting, planning commissioners discussed the coastal management and conservation element of the plan, which includes access to public beaches, and intergovernmental coordination, housing affordability and public school facilities. Upcoming discussions will include traffic, transportation and tourism.

To see all of the proposed changes to the comprehensive plan discussed so far, visit https:// larueplanning.com/holmesbeach/.