You probably don’t know five people who’ve set foot on Egmont Key, a roughly 250-acre island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The rapidly-disappearing land mass is visible from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, but only accessible by boat (or a long swim).
To discuss Egmont Key’s fascinating past, present, future and relationship with the humans who live around it, The Skinny assembled a collection of journalists, songwriters, anthropologists, archaeologists and activists to join us for a full hour dedicated to the key.
- Meg Duff, a freelance writer and producer who recently examined, “Which islands will become uninhabitable due to climate change first?” for Live Science.
- Rita Youngman, a Seminole tribal member and “Egmont Key” songwriter who in 2016 was part of an expedition that sought more truth about not just the U.S. Army’s assault on Seminole Indians in the Bay area, but the island’s place in tribal history.
- Brooke Hansen, a University of South Florida anthropologist specializing in cultural heritage at risk.
- Laura Harrison, an archaeologist and director of USF’s Access 3D Lab.
- Tara Lynn Hubbard, co-founder of Take MAR (More Action for Regeneration), and chair of the nonprofit’s Egmont Key Alliance, which aims to rebalance the relationship between Egmont Key and those who still live in its presence.
Listen to the show via Apple Music, TuneIn, and Spotify.
One Response to “Egmont Key is more fascinating than we could ever imagine”
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Thank you for the piece about Egmont Key. A few comments for clarification regarding Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge. Most importantly, please understand that the great majority of the island is a national wildlife refuge, set aside in 1974 specifically for the protection of thousands of beach nesting birds. It is a very important bird nesting site in Tampa Bay for Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, White Ibis, Brown Pelican, and Black Skimmers. Recreation on Egmont Key is allowed on portions of the island, much of the island is off limits to the public to protect the wildlife. This is necessary. While the island is property of US Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Park Service manages recreation on the island.
There are VERY few beaches that are managed with wildlife as a priority in Tampa Bay, The loss of Egmont Key (which is a real possibility) will be a loss of wildlife in Tampa Bay.
I was surprised that your show did not include all of the stakeholders, no input from USFWS, Florida Park Service, or the Friends of the Tampa Bay Refuges. I am a board member with the Friends of Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges, we work closely with USFWS supporting their mission and providing on the island assistance. Hurricane recovery work is being done, it is much more than simply picking up beach trash. If I can be of any assistance please feel free to contact me, you can visit our web site at tampabayrefuges.org.
Thank you,
Patrick Mundus