Senate Bill sb0508

    Florida Senate - 2001        (NP)                       SR 508

    By Senator Carlton





    24-399-01

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing April 2-8, 2001, as

  3         "Oceans Week" and April 4, 2001, as "Oceans

  4         Day."

  5

  6         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes that coastal and

  7  ocean resources are vital to Florida's quality of life and

  8  economic vitality, and

  9         WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State of Florida to

10  conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty,

11  in accordance with Article II, Section 7 of the Florida

12  Constitution, and

13         WHEREAS, Florida is the only state in the contiguous

14  United States that is bordered on three sides by the sea, with

15  over 8,000 miles of continuous tidal shoreline, and

16         WHEREAS, over 75 percent of Florida's citizens live

17  within its coastal counties, and

18         WHEREAS, there is a need to coordinate the protection,

19  enhancement, and management of our state's ocean resources so

20  that future generations will enjoy healthy ocean and coastal

21  resources, and

22         WHEREAS, oceans provide the basis for a significant

23  part of the state's economic, ecological, and social

24  well-being, and

25         WHEREAS, tourism is Florida's largest industry,

26  depending in large part on its oceans and beaches, generating

27  more than $40.8 billion in taxable spending, and

28         WHEREAS, recreational boating depends on Florida's

29  coasts and oceans, contributing over $3.5 billion per year to

30  the state's economy, along with commercial fishing valued at

31  approximately $900 million annually to Florida's economy, and

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    Florida Senate - 2001        (NP)                       SR 508
    24-399-01




  1         WHEREAS, Florida's fourteen deepwater ports handle over

  2  $40.9 billion worth of imports and exports, expected to reach

  3  $130 billion in trade by 2005, and serve over 80 percent of

  4  homeport cruise passenger movements in North America, and

  5         WHEREAS, the United States Congress has called for the

  6  establishment of a coordinated and comprehensive national

  7  ocean policy by passing the Oceans Act of 2000, with

  8  appointment of a national commission by April 20, 2001, and a

  9  final report due 18 months after the commission is

10  established, or by late 2002, and

11         WHEREAS, Oceanology International 2001, a world-class

12  exhibition and joint ocean forum, is holding its first annual

13  Americas Conference in Miami, Florida, on April 3-5, 2001, and

14         WHEREAS, Mote Marine Laboratory and the Florida

15  Institute of Oceanography are organizing ocean-related

16  exhibitions and a reception for legislators and governmental

17  officials at the State Capitol on April 4, 2001, and

18         WHEREAS, the Florida Ocean Alliance has been formed as

19  a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-private partnership of

20  ocean-related interests to promote awareness and understanding

21  of the ocean's importance to the ecology and economy of

22  Florida and its neighbors, NOW, THEREFORE,

23

24  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

25

26         That the Florida Senate recognizes the week of April

27  2-8, 2001, as Oceans Week, and April 4, 2001, as Oceans Day in

28  recognition of the importance of Florida's ocean resources,

29  and to promote public awareness of this importance.

30

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.