Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has announced that 16 of its projects have been selected for year two of the Florida Red Tide Mitigation & Technology Development Initiative. The initiative is led by Mote, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It was established and supported by state appropriations starting in June 2019, and focuses on uniting the best and brightest scientists from around the world in an effort to reduce the impact of Florida red tides, which are blooms of the toxin-producing algae species Karenia brevis.
 
The first round of projects was announced in early 2020; there are now more than 20 current research projects that are part of the initiative, which includes 12 different partnering institutions and organizations. Mote’s research facility infrastructure is also continuing to expand in order to accommodate these projects and provide safe spaces to test mitigation technologies and methods in a controlled setting.

A panel of scientists from eight different agencies and institutions reviewed the partner-led grant proposals submitted, and the strongest  were presented to the Red Tide Initiative Technical Advisory Council on Oct. 2, 2020. The 16 Mote- and partner-led projects will be awarded more than $2.1 million in total grant support.