The 2025 Marine Pollution Forum hosted by the Barrier Islands Parks Society talked about all things water, ranging from manatees to hurricane debris and water quality.
The online forum brought in a panel of experts from organizations like Save The Manatees Club, Florida Department of Environment Protection and BIP’s co-host Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership.
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The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office provided aerial recon for a missing manatee last week near Tampa, helping rescuers locate and rescue the manatee trapped in a canal post-storm surge.
SCREENSHOT
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Laishley Park Municipal Marina in Punta Gorda was severely damaged with boats stacked on each other after Hurricane Milton.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
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In this drone shot taken Oct. 19, 2024, we are looking south from the south end of Manasota Key, with Milton Pass in the foreground and Stump Pass in the background.
WaterLine photo by Capt. Josh Olive
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Seagrass loss on the east wall of Charlotte Harbor since 2018.
PROVIDED BY CHNEP
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Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve shows bacterial and nutrient impairments.
PROVIDED CHNEP
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