Episode 80: Capt. Benny Blanco - Shifting Baselines

Benny Blanco is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, but
under his skin, his blood runs hot. In 2015, his life pivoted
becoming a devout conservationists after Florida Bay lost over
fifty thousand acres of his favorite fishing grounds. These grass
flats were decimated by a large algae bloom cause by poor water
quality and lack of fresh water. Joined at the hip with Captains
for Clean Water, Blanco has been hand in hand with fellow guides
and anglers alike on the footsteps of Tallahassee demanding change.
The decimation over the years hasn’t just been in Florida Bay but
throughout Florida (Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon,
Everglades National Park, Caloosahatchee River, etc..). The main
culprit was the lack of fresh water as it travels south through the
Everglades. 2022 was a critical year when a passed Bill (2508) was
on the desk of Governor DeSantis for a possible veto which was
successfully executed. Those waning hours were critical. Captains
for Clean Water and Benny’s army were called upon and the “Rally in
Tally” was a power play demanding to be heard, and they were. Benny
Blanco has been a sought after fishing guide for over two decades.
But his popular fishing show, “Guiding Flow TV” tells the
conservation story from the poling platform of his skiff. Saving
the Everglades is his most important work, and his voice has become
one of the most powerful and respected in demanding Florida
Legislature to clean up its act!