Max Chesnes

Max Chesnes

@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Environment reporter, Tampa Bay Times Instagram 📸 MaxChesnes

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Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

We joined scientists on a research expedition last week 100 miles offshore Florida to study the largest fish in the sea It’s rare enough to document one whale shark feeding in the Gulf. On Tuesday, they found 14. Read our story @tampabaytimes.bsky.social: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comOffshore Florida’s Gulf Coast, scientists chase the world’s largest fishWe joined an expedition deep into the Gulf after data from a single whale shark led researchers to a gathering hidden offshore.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Leaders of Tampa Bay’s water district havent spoken publicly about how Amendment 3 would hit their revenues But internally, staff estimated $23 million in annual revenue could be in jeopardy by 2028 That rises to almost $54 million by 2032, records show www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comAs Florida’s property tax vote looms, Tampa Bay’s water district stands to lose millionsLeaders at the district haven’t talked publicly about how Amendment 3 would hit their revenues. But internal estimates paint a bleak picture.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

NEW: Two beachside business owners were arrested today on felony charges of scattering toxic mothballs around a protected bird colony in front of a St. Pete Beach bar and hotel: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.com2 beachfront business owners accused of scattering mothballs on St. Pete Beach to deter birdsThe men said in text messages that they believed nesting black skimmers were causing their businesses to lose up to $50,000, wildlife officials said.

Max Chesnes reposted

espierce
@espierce.bsky.social

This is an awesome article and very well done.

Max Chesnes@maxchesnes.bsky.social

We joined scientists on a research expedition last week 100 miles offshore Florida to study the largest fish in the sea It’s rare enough to document one whale shark feeding in the Gulf. On Tuesday, they found 14. Read our story @tampabaytimes.bsky.social: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comOffshore Florida’s Gulf Coast, scientists chase the world’s largest fishWe joined an expedition deep into the Gulf after data from a single whale shark led researchers to a gathering hidden offshore.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

For years, a company used a gas known to cause cancer to clean medical tools at a plant in Tampa Bay But the business and regulators who oversaw it didn’t curb emissions for years Now, people who lived close to the site have cancer, and they're suing: www.tampabay.com/investigatio...

tampabay.comA company released toxic gas in Tampa Bay for years. No one stopped itThe plant sterilized medical equipment with ethylene oxide in Temple Terrace. More than a dozen people now blame it for their cancers, and many are suing.

Max Chesnes reposted

Erin Spencer, PhD
@etspencer.bsky.social

Florida wildlife officials are trying to determine who scattered hundreds of toxic mothballs Monday across a stretch of St. Pete Beach near a colony of protected black skimmers that had gathered near the dunes. 🌍🌊 @tampabaytimes.bsky.social @maxchesnes.bsky.social www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comHundreds of mothballs scattered on St. Pete Beach. Wildlife officials are investigatingA wildlife officer on the case believes they were placed across the beach to deter protected birds from nesting.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

The Trump administration wants to open up the eastern Gulf to oil drilling, pushing closer to Florida shores. The pushback is swift, with Gov. DeSantis urging the feds to reconsider thttps://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2025/11/20/oil-drilling-florida-gulf/

tampabay.comTrump administration proposes pushing offshore oil drilling closer to Florida shoresThe plan ignited immediate pushback from Florida politicians and the coastal communities they represent.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Left: the newly proposed area that could be opened up to offshore oil drilling Right: the known habitat of the critically endangered Rice’s whale, with fewer than 100 estimated left in the wild Deepwater Horizon declined the species population by an estimated 22%

Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Earlier this summer, Floridians felt blindsided by a rushed proposal to trade away 600 acres of pristine wilderness preserve in St. Johns Now, a Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill for more transparency around possible sales of conservation lands www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comAfter ‘alarming’ Guana land swap idea, Florida lawmaker files bill for more transparencyThe measure would give the public more advanced notice when conservation land is being proposed for a sale or swap.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

NEW: I’ve interviewed more than a dozen longtime Florida conservation experts, including former regulators who combined have worked under 5 governors All shared concerns with me about the state’s recent purchase of a 4-acre property for $83 million. More: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.com‘A sham’: Florida’s longtime conservation experts question pricey 4-acre Destin purchaseWhen Florida is in urgent need of more conservation land, why were four waterfront acres made the top priority?
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Dr. Jane Goodall was not just a force of nature. She was a fearless and unrelenting champion of it. I had the honor of interviewing Jane in 2023 and 2024. Our conversations were optimistic and future-focused. They always centered on one thing: hope. www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comJane Goodall had a message for Floridians: Work together for natureThe Tampa Bay Times sat down with Dr. Jane Goodall in 2023 and 2024. Her message was always centered on hope.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Florida’s wildlife agency gave a license to a company to capture a manta ray — a federally designated threatened species — for Sea World in Abu Dhabi. After a video of its capture went viral, a bipartisan collation of lawmakers is calling for a change: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comAfter viral video of giant manta ray capture, bipartisan Florida lawmakers want changeThe state wildlife agency allowing the capture of a threatened species is “inconsistent with Florida’s own legacy of marine conservation,” the lawmakers wrote.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

A pair of Florida panther kittens — sisters born just a few months ago — were both hit and killed in Naples That brings the statewide panther death total this year to 12. All but one have been caused by car strikes @tampabaytimes.bsky.social www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comEndangered Florida panther kittens, born just months ago, hit and killedConservation groups said the deaths in Naples underscore the need for more wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity in a rapidly developing state.

Max Chesnes reposted

molly taft
@mollytaft.com

NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —

wired.comScientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their WorkA new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

In 2016, Florida’s Big Cypress became the nation’s first “dark sky” preserve, a key designation to help endangered nocturnal species But the leading group that classified the park now says artificial light from Alligator Alcatraz “directly threatens” that www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comDarkness is crucial to Everglades habitat. Could Alligator Alcatraz threaten it?Artificial light in a world-renowned “dark sky” preserve is just one of the environmental and human health concerns surrounding the facility.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

82-year-old Clyde Butcher, world-renowned photographer who last year earned a presidential medal for his life’s work documenting the Florida Everglades, joined protests yesterday against the state’s proposed “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center

Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

Poaching, sweeping habitat loss and dwindling wetlands have plummeted the population of one of Florida’s most beloved flowers Now, U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposes bolstering ghost orchid protections by adding it to the endangered species list www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comFacing extinction, rare Florida swamp flower could get more protectionsFederal wildlife officials estimate there are fewer than 1,000 ghost orchids remaining in the United States.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

This week marked the 30th story in our series about the DeSantis’ administration’s plans last year to develop state parks with hotels and golf courses All of those stories are now in one place 👇 www.tampabay.com/topics/state...

tampabay.comState Parks saga | Tampa Bay TimesIn 2024, the DeSantis administration proposed developing state parks across Florida with golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts and more. The Tampa Bay Times revealed and broke news of the plans, cov...
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

BREAKING: The Legislature just delivered a decisive victory to Floridians who treasure their state parks, passing a bill to ban golf courses and hotels in parks The bill heads to the desk of the governor, whose admin’s plans prompted protests last summer

tampabay.comAfter wanting golf in state parks, DeSantis must now decide on a bill to ban itThe Florida Legislature sent a bill to protect state parks to DeSantis’ desk Thursday, countering his secret plans last summer.

Max Chesnes reposted

Julie Hauserman
@jhauserman.bsky.social

Congrats @maxchesnes.bsky.social & Emily Mahoney of the @tampabaytimes.bsky.social for winning the Lucy Morgan Award for their #journalism exposing DeSantis administration plan to put hotels, golf courses and sports courts on #Florida parks. Lucy would be proud. www.tampabay.com/news/2025/04....

tampabay.comTampa Bay Times journalists Max Chesnes, Emily L. Mahoney win Lucy Morgan PrizeChesnes and Mahoney accepted the award during a newsroom ceremony Wednesday.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

This is Michael Slattery, a PhD and former professor who joined USGS to make coastal science more accessible to the public. When people evacuated beaches during Hurricane Helene, Slattery rushed toward them for research. He was fired Feb. 14 www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comThis scientist was making Florida beaches resilient to hurricanes. DOGE fired him.Michael Slattery was fired in the middle of studying how Sand Key and Madeira Beach are changing over time.
Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social

NEW: The nation’s only dedicated refuge for manatees just lost two of its park rangers — a quarter of the staff — amid the Trump administration’s federal layoffs This is their story: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

tampabay.comThese park rangers oversaw Florida’s only manatee refuge. Then they were fired.The Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal workforce are impacting the only national refuge created specifically for threatened manatees.

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