HILLSBOROUGH CO., Fla. — A recent buzz about mosquitoes has been growing in Tampa Bay.
Earlier this week, two new cases of malaria were confirmed in Sarasota bringing the total to six. Some work is being done by Hillsborough County staff to help reduce that number. It’s a job that everyone can get behind.
Inside a room, a few young minds are learning the buzz behind some bloodsuckers. We’re talking about, of course, mosquitoes.
“We want them to be aware, take the proper steps, know where that information is and provide it to them free of charge.”
Behind it all is Paolo Pecora. Watching him teach for a minute or two and it doesn’t take long to notice his passion for the topic.
“Providing public health benefits to our Hillsborough County residents, I take a lot of passion into that and public outreach and fisheries," says Pecora, a project coordinator for Mosquito Management Services with Hillsborough County. "I’m just happy to be involved with a great government agency. Being a Tampa native myself, I’m happy to work for Hillsborough County government.”
At Gadsden Park, Pecora spearheads a free mosquito fish giveaway. The county has been offering these giveaways for a few years now to much success. A total of 17,000 fish were given out just last year.
“We’re continually growing," Pecora says. "1.5 million people; 500,000 households- we’re just continuing to grow. We want the public to understand this is going to be with us for a long time.”
The fish that Hillsborough County hands out to residents are eastern mosquito fish. They’re quite tiny but pack a pretty powerful punch.
“Eastern mosquito fish are top feeders so they will feed on mosquito larvae stopping that whole cycle of mosquitoes maturing into adults and biting people," said Pecora. "They reproduce quickly and eat a lot of mosquitoes- about 100 a day. They’re effective biological control agents.”
It’s one way the county is controlling the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Something these residents can get behind.
“We have grandkids that come visit us and we’re worried about the diseases that mosquitoes are carrying these days," says Robert Soriano and Zhemya Nichlos, fish recipients. "Whatever we can do to help.”
Everyone doing their part. And that is the message, Pecora says, behind their fish giveaways.
“Mosquitoes require water for their life cycle. I think removing that water habitat from their homes or their properties will help us prevent them from propagating and expanding.”
A message that can go a long way for everyone’s safety.
Residents throughout Hillsborough County can pick up free fish at a mobile fish site. If you missed out on the action, the next distribution will be July 22 at the Fishhawk Sports Complex.
Mosquito fish will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the following Saturdays:
- July 22: Fishhawk Sports Complex, 16000 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547
- August 5: Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 766 W Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz, FL 33548
- August 19: Keystone Park, 17928 Gunn Hwy., Odessa, FL 33556
- September 9: Southshore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573
- September 23: Providence Skate Park, 5720 Providence Rd., Riverview, FL 33578
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July 09, 2023 at 03:30AM
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Free fish giveaways are helping reduce mosquitoes - Bay News 9
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