USF Launches 5-Year Surveillance Project to Study Contaminants in Tampa Bay Fish
The University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science has launched a groundbreaking five-year research initiative known as the Tampa Bay Surveillance Project. This long-term study aims to evaluate contaminant levels in some of the region’s most iconic and widely targeted fish species, snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, and sheepshead.
With Tampa Bay serving as both a thriving recreational fishery and a heavily urbanized estuary, this study comes at a crucial time. The goal is to better understand how pollutants, including heavy metals, microplastics, hydrocarbons, and pharmaceuticals, are accumulating in fish that not only support local ecosystems but also draw millions of dollars in recreational fishing revenue each year.
What Sets the Project Apart?
What sets this project apart is its community-driven approach. Rather than relying solely on lab-based field collections, USF scientists are partnering directly with licensed charter captains, recreational anglers, and local fish houses to collect fish samples from known hotspots around the bay. These include popular fishing zones near the Skyway Bridge, Fort De Soto, Weedon Island, and the Gandy Bridge.
Participating charter captains play a vital role in the sampling process. When on guided trips, they help identify active fishing zones, record environmental conditions, and retain specific species specimens that meet study criteria. Once back at the dock, these fish are labeled, logged, and transferred to research staff using cold storage protocols to preserve tissue integrity.
The USF research team then analyzes tissue samples, liver, muscle, and occasionally blood, for trace contaminants. Sophisticated lab techniques, such as mass spectrometry and gas chromatography, allow scientists to detect even the most minute concentrations of harmful compounds. In some cases, stomach contents are also examined to determine dietary habits and potential ingestion of microplastics.
The research doesn’t stop at simply identifying pollutants. The project also examines how seasonality, location, water quality, and fish size influence contaminant loads. Over the five-year timeline, this will help researchers build a detailed geographic and biological map of pollutant exposure across Tampa Bay’s diverse habitats.
One of the core outcomes of the project is to inform state fisheries managers and public health agencies. By understanding which areas or species carry higher contaminant loads, the state can better advise anglers on safe consumption guidelines and adapt water quality policies. Additionally, findings could shape future decisions on dredging, stormwater runoff control, and habitat restoration efforts.
Dr. Lisa Krimsky, one of the lead researchers, emphasized the collaborative nature of the study. “We’re working side-by-side with the people who know the bay best, its guides and anglers. Their participation allows us to gather more robust, real-world data than we ever could alone.”
As Tampa Bay continues to grow in population and development pressure, projects like this are critical in protecting its ecological health and fishing legacy. The Surveillance Project not only promotes scientific insight but also empowers the local community to be part of the solution.
