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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #228 |
| Bull Shark Research |
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| Requester: |
Dr. Kumar Mahadevan |
Organization: |
Mote Marine Laboratory |
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| Project Title: |
Bull Shark Research |
Date Submitted |
12/21/2007 4:03:47 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Bennett |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The bull shark is a large coastal shark species that is common along beaches, in bays, even in freshwater rivers. As the most dangerous shark to humans in this part of the world, the bull shark has been implicated in serious, and some fatal, attacks in Florida waters in recent years. It is unknown whether or not bull shark populations are increasing or whether individual sharks reside for long periods of time along popular beaches. This project will address head-on the nature of bull shark-people interactions in Florida coastal waters. |
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| Recipient: |
Robert E. Hueter, Ph.D. |
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Contact: |
David Shepp |
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1600 Ken Thompson Parkway |
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Contact Phone: |
(863) 581-4250 |
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Sarasota 34236 |
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Contact email: |
dave@fsg-llc.net |
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| Counties: |
{Statewide} |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| This project will determine population trends of large bull sharks in Florida Gulf coast waters in areas contiguous to popular swimming beaches and other areas of human aquatic activity. Scientific data on abundance of sharks will be collected and analyzed to assess whether bull sharks, which are not targeted by shark fisheries, are increasing or decreasing along the Florida Gulf coast. On-water research will be conducted using tagging and tracking devices to determine ranges and residency times of individual bull sharks. Scientifically designed aerial surveys will be conducted near popular swimming areas to determine the contiguity of these sharks to people and residency times of sharks in the area. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Improved protection of Florida beachgoers and swimmers against the risk of serious shark attack. Outcomes will be recommendations and guidelines to State and local officials and agencies as to the extent of any Florida bull shark "problem" and how to better protect swimmers using Florida beaches. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$175,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$250,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$75,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$175,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Numerous newspaper articles and television news broadcasts detailing bull shark attacks (some fatal) |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Manatee County Legislative Delegation |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
