A roundup of news items related to climate change and other environmental issues in Florida:
Florida could push some Citizens customers to unregulated insurers | Tampa Bay Times
TALLAHASSEE — Some Floridians with state-run Citizens Property Insurance could soon find their homeowners policies shuffled to an unregulated insurer.
In a first for the state, lawmakers are poised to allow companies known as surplus lines insurers to take out policies from Citizens.
Up to 80,000 Floridians — those whose second homes are covered by Citizens — could find themselves with policies lacking basic consumer protections, such as a guarantee that their claim could be paid.
Number of dead, dying sawfish in Lower Keys continue to mount | WLRN
Reports of distressed or dying rare sawfish in the Lower Keys have climbed to 39 as scientists race to determine what’s killing one of the planet’s most endangered species amid an outbreak of unusual fish behavior in Florida waters.
As of Tuesday, 15 smalltooth sawfish had been retrieved for testing, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials, who are investigating the deaths.
“Are the two related? We can’t definitely say that, but we’re pursuing this with every means we have,” said Tom Matthews, a biologist who manages the Florida Wildlife Research Institute’s Marathon lab.
Gov. DeSantis announces $6 million in Idalia relief | WUFT
Gov. Ron Desantis is awarding more than $6 million to communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia through the rural infrastructure fund program and Florida disaster fund.
Florida lawmakers made the funds available during a special session of the Legislature in November.
The money will be used to support low- to moderate-income homeowners who no longer have insurance after the storm.
If you have any news items of note that you think we should include in our next roundup, please email The Invading Sea Editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here.
