Will Sponge Docks Fire Affect Aquarium?

On Tuesday night an army of local fire officials and coast guard personnel fought a fire that started on the Skye Marie , a shrimp boat docked at the historical sponge docks, just north of the Tarpon Springs Aquarium. 

was disbursed into the Anclote River, which lead to patches of fire floating down the waterway as well as an extremely contaminated area near the aquarium.

Since the facility uses water from the river to function, a number of questions were raised during and after the blaze as to the well being of the wildlife inside the aquarium.

Denise Ladley, manager of the aquarium, spoke with Patch early Wednesday to give information about the fire's aftermath and its toll on the attraction. 

"In a sense, it does affect us," Ladley said. "However, we do have the ability to hold our water."

Generators for the aquarium give the facility the power to reuse the existent water within its tanks for a number of days during unexpected events like a hurricane or power outage.

Fresh water from the river isn't required on a daily basis for the wildlife to thrive. Scott Konger, owner of the Tarpon Springs Aquarium confirmed that the aquarium was up and running with no complications from the fire.

"We are able to go several days without using the river water if it's necessary," Konger said. 

Konger added that the water is used sporadically and not continuously which plays a role in the resource.

Until Konger gets the green light from the Florida Wildlife Consercation, he said the aquarium will not be using water from the river and will function solely off of its current supply. 

A number of agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Environmental Protection gathered at the scene of the fire to help clean up. 

Officer Jackey Angelis of the Florida Wildlife Conservation said the cleanup could take a few days. Konger said he isn't worried about the aquarium's well being post-blaze.

"I think we should be fine," Konger said. "I don't think there's going to be any long term effects on the aquarium."

Related coverage:

• Fire at Sponge Docks as Boat Goes Up in Flames
• Tarpon Springs Fire Video and Photos Ignite Social Media
• Tarpon Springs Aquarium Draws Generations of Visitors

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