St. Pete Ocean Team resurfaces, explores expansion 

The St. Petersburg Innovation District has reconvened a consortium for marine science, research, education and entrepreneurship after a roughly year-long hiatus.

Dozens of interdisciplinary stakeholders attended the St. Pete Ocean Team meeting Wednesday, held virtually and in person at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub. The overarching goal is to develop a strategy that articulates the impact and opportunities for area marine-based businesses and initiatives.

The group also supported expanding the Ocean Team to encompass the Tampa Bay metropolitan area from Citrus to Sarasota Counties. The marine economy is lucrative: A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study found that regional industries generated an $8.7 billion gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021.

Alison Barlow, executive director of the Innovation District, compared Tampa Bay’s most recent five-year blue (marine) economy trends to Miami, which typically receives more recognition. Related regional jobs, wages and GDP increased by 18.2%, 46.8% and 32.6%, respectively.

“What  I found fascinating is … we were outpacing Miami,” Barlow said. “Now, we weren’t in new business opportunities and the establishment of new businesses. That helped us justify why NOAA would want to invest in helping us grow entrepreneurs in this space.”

A graphic highlighting the economic impact of ocean-based enterprises in Tampa Bay. Screengrab.

A consortium featuring the Innovation District, Tampa Bay Wave and the University of South Florida College of Marine Science won a $14 million NOAA grant in December 2024 to support and scale startups that pioneer environmental resiliency tools through technological advancements. Many of the Ocean Team’s over 20 member organizations participated in previous grant stakeholder meetings.

Representatives from local businesses, nonprofits and Innovation District institutions like the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey and USF attended the Ocean Team meeting Wednesday. They were joined by staff from the Pinellas County Economic Development Corporation, St. Petersburg College, Florida State University, the City of St. Petersburg and Councilmember Gina Driscoll.

Participants will help develop an ocean enterprise strategy, inventory assets, identify and address capability gaps and amplify the work of partner organizations. Developing data and technology-based solutions is a focus.

Barlow said the Innovation District is “happy to kind of coordinate and lead” a new regional Ocean Team, “but we need all the experts around the table and other people to provide input.”

Tampa Bay’s blue economy – shipping and transportation, commercial and recreational fishing, tourism and research – supported 5,720 businesses with 140,046 employees and $4.8 billion in wages in 2021. The new blue economy builds on the traditional version by harnessing the power of data and incorporating emerging technologies.

“I think that’s where, in particular, the Tampa Bay region grows and becomes more valuable because of all of our data and tech opportunities here,” Barlow said.

She believes a cohesive regional ocean enterprise strategy will help attract companies and talent. Barlow also hopes to increase awareness of the blue economy’s financial impact.

“Defense even – there’s a portion of defense that’s very much about the water,” she added. “So, how do we call that out? There’s going to be tricks to making this work, but it will be worth it to figure it out.”

Barlow said a coordinated message would also propel funding requests and grant applications. St. Pete stakeholders proved that with NOAA last year.

The St. Petersburg Innovation District’s economic assets include research vessels, like the Western Flyer. Its “moon pool” allows researchers to deploy remotely operated vehicles. Photo by Mark Parker.

Barlow suggested that Ocean Team members, within an acceptable structure, could share expensive equipment. She wondered how the three ports in Tampa Bay could align operations and goals.

“St. Pete can fill a niche with research vessels, with testing and evaluation,” Barlow continued. “We had an underwater drone testing here because it went to one of the larger ports, and they were like, ‘We can’t have that here,’ just because of the logistics.”

Multiple participants noted the importance of governmental support. “I love it,” Driscoll said. “I’m in.”

The Innovation District will now issue surveys to gather additional feedback regarding focus areas. Leadership will likely host smaller meetings throughout the summer before convening the entire group again in September.

Stakeholders will soon have additional information to consider. David Wirth, enterprise facilities planning manager for the city, said officials would hold their first public information session for a “long overdue” Port St. Petersburg master plan June 25 at the Coliseum.

“We obviously have the Hub; we’re talking about two,” Wirth said of the adjacent facility. “We want to continue expanding innovation. So, a whole host of opportunities out there.”