MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Aug. 27, 2018) – Today Manatee County announced a new program to maintain local canals and waterways impacted by the August red tide outbreak. The Nets to Neighbors campaign will provide local homeowner associations and neighborhoods with nets and buckets for local cleanup efforts.
Manatee County will continue its daily cleanup of public beaches and parks on Anna Maria Island. The County now will move to a maintenance effort, said County Administrator Ed Hunzeker during a news conference today at 1 p.m.
"We’re transitioning to a program where we will provide nets and buckets to the neighborhood sites that have dumpsters," Hunzeker said. "You and your neighbors can assist by picking up residual fish. We have no idea how long (red tide) will continue but we’re committed to helping with volunteers and equipment."
Today, nets and buckets were taken to Coral Shores, Wild Oak Bay and Trailer Estates -- neighborhoods that have been impacted most directly from the red tide bloom. By Wednesday of this week, many more nets will be available to borrow at G.T. Bray Recreation Center.
"As of today about 241 tons of debris has been removed from our public beaches and parks and along coastal areas including several of the neighborhoods in my district," said Commissioner Steve Jonsson. "Thank you to the County’s contractor that assisted in the effort last week. Thank you also to the County staff who have have been working from sun up until sundown for three weeks to keep our public areas clean and clear."
Neighborhoods or homeowner associations can join the Nets to Neighbors campaign or request a dumpster by calling the County's red tide hotline, (941) 749-3547. With fewer incoming calls the County's red tide hotline will no longer be staffed on weekends. During regular business hours, residents can call with questions about red tide and the cleanup operations and to find out about volunteer opportunities.
Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources will host another volunteer cleanup event of Palma Sola Causeway on Sat., Sept. 1 at Palma Sola Causeway boat ramp from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Parks and Natural Resources staff will provide basic masks, buckets and gloves. In addition to cleanup tools, volunteers are asked to wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet and wear close-toed shoes that tie or strap to your feet.
The County’s public resource for updates on these cleanup efforts are posted daily at www.mymanatee.org/redtide. There people can get the latest beach conditions, a list of health and safety resources from state agencies and a list of dumpster locations to drop off red tide debris.
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.