Tampa Bay Surveillance: Quarter One ReviewTampa Bay Surveillance: Quarter One Review
Tampa Bay Surveillance staff in the Murawski fish dissection lab, USF College of Marine Science
The first several months of the Tampa Bay Surveillance project have been extremely productive – allowing researchers to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive study of emerging pollutants in the bay. Here’s a look at the progress made:
Our donated research vessel - a work in progress
Setting the Stage
The team spent a significant portion of the first quarter on essential startup tasks like lab setup, permitting, field training, and workflow design. The Management Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) was established to ensure stakeholder involvement throughout the project. We were also gifted a 34′ SeaArk Dauntless from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office that we cannot wait to put in the water! Vessel updates are ongoing and we will be sure to highlight the grand reveal once the work and inspections are complete.
Fishing in Tampa Bay - reaching quotas
Fish on the Agenda
Quarter 1 fish sampling began in April and concluded on June 26. Redfish, snook, and spotted sea trout were successfully collected across six regions of Tampa Bay, with biometrics meticulously documented. Post-sampling day dissections gathered muscle, liver, stomach contents, otoliths, and more – for contaminant and histological analysis which will begin later this year.
Eckerd College's 'Scientist at Sea' Instagram posts from collaborative 'Day in the Bay'
Sediment Sampling Sails
Through collaboration with Eckerd College’s undergraduate-research ‘Scientist at Sea‘ program, USF and Eckerd participated in a ‘Day in the Bay’ on May 20th. Sediment cores, surface grabs, and fish samples were collected at various locations throughout Tampa Bay with concurrent sampling for both fish and sediments providing a holistic picture of complicated logistics, planning, sample collection and processing. In total, the team collected 25 cores at 5 sites in Hillsborough Bay, Mid-Bay East and Mid-Bay West. 25 surface grab samples were also collected in the Lower Bay West region.
Pump station from the South Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility in St. Petersburg, FL
Testing the Waters (and Wastewater)
In addition to chemical analysis, the project is investigating the potential of electrocoagulation, a water treatment technology, to remove contaminants from wastewater effluent. Initial tests, sampling effluent from the South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility in St. Petersburg, FL, showed promising results for reducing various chemicals, including pesticides and PCBs.
Dr. O'Leary (wearing her best fish-scale dress) at GOMCON 2024, ready to distribute surveys
Taking the Pulse of the Public
Dr. O’Leary’s survey was distributed at the 2024 Gulf of Mexico Conference (February 19-22) to understand public perceptions about fish health, seafood safety, and the connection between human and fish populations. Analysis of the 447 responses is underway.
Key Achievements
