Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Selects New Executive Director

Sarasota, FL (September 29, 2025) - The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is announcing a transition in leadership. Effective November 17, 2025, Dr. Ryan Gandy will take over the Executive Director position from Dr. David Tomasko, who has served in the position since November 2020. 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. An investment of over $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. Dr. Gandy holds a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, a M.S. in Mariculture from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Charleston. Over his 15-year tenure as a

Research Scientist and Research Administrator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 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. For the last year, he 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, Dr. Gandy has witnessed the region’s ecological challenges and transformations firsthand. He is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural resources of Sarasota Bay 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. I look forward to working with our partners and the community to strengthen the estuary’s resilience for the benefit of all," said Dr. Gandy.

Dr. Gandy will be available for interviews beginning September 29, 2025.