He will succeed David Tomasko
Effective as of Nov. 17, Ryan Gandy will become the new executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), succeeding David Tomasko, the organization has announced.
Tomasko has been the executive director since November 2020, a news release notes.
“The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is a cooperative partnership among communities, researchers, and governments that strives to improve the health of Sarasota Bay and enhance the area’s natural resources for public benefit,” the release explains.
“From 2020 to 2025, SBEP and its partners collaborated to develop and implement a pollutant load reduction strategy aimed at restoring the bay’s ecological health,” the release points out. An investment of more than $300 million “in wastewater upgrades, regional stormwater retrofits, and large-scale habitat restoration projects has led to substantial improvements in the bay’s condition, evidenced by a 19% increase in seagrass bay-wide since 2022,” the release says.
In June 2019, the Sarasota County Commission committed to upgrading its largest wastewater treatment plant — the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility on Lorraine Road in Sarasota — to Advanced Wastewater Treatment status. Subsequently, the board members agreed to upgrade the county’s other two, primary water reclamation facilities — Central County, which stands on Palmer Ranch; and Venice Gardens in Venice.
Gandy holds a doctorate in wildlife and fisheries science, a master’s degree in mariculture from Texas A&M University, and a Bachelor of Science in marine biology from the University of Charleston, the SBEP release continues.
Over his 15-year tenure as a research scientist and research administrator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the release says, “he led and supported the development of scientific programs focused on research, monitoring, stakeholder engagement, citizen science, fisheries management, and the restoration of shellfish resources statewide.”
Over the past year, it adds, Gandy has served as the science and restoration manager for SBEP, “where he successfully advanced the program’s library of restoration projects and ensured key initiatives are informed by current science.”
A fifth-generation Floridian and 21-year resident of Sarasota County, “Gandy has witnessed the region’s ecological challenges and transformations firsthand,” the release points out. He is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural resources of Sarasota Bay,” the release adds, “so that future generations can continue to connect with and benefit from Florida’s unique coastal environment.
“While we’ve made significant progress in restoring bay health and increasing marine habitat, our coastal ecosystem still faces challenges,” Gandy said in the release. “I look forward to working with our partners and the community to strengthen the estuary’s resilience for the benefit of all.”
Prior to serving as executive director of the organization, Tomasko was principal associate of Environmental Science Associates, his LinkedIn account notes. He held that position from January 2014 until November 2020, it says. He earned a doctorate in biology from the University of South Florida, following his receipt of a master’s degree in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Tomasko has made numerous presentations over the past years to the Sarasota City Commission, to talk about “report cards” regarding the health of Sarasota Bay and its various smaller bays.
He also addressed the Sarasota County Commission in April 2023, at the board’s request, to discuss potential solutions to water circulation problems in Little Sarasota Bay. At that time, Midnight Pass remained closed on the southern portion of Siesta Key. Siesta residents long had urged the commissioners to work on plans to try to reopen the channel between the Gulf and Little Sarasota Bay.
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene’s storm surge created a new Midnight Pass. Although the inlet soon closed, Hurricane Milton opened it again when it struck Siesta on Oct. 9, 2024. Since then, the pass has remained open.
To learn more about the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, visit www.sarasotabay.org