Senate Bill sb2696

    Florida Senate - 2003        (NP)                      SR 2696

    By Senator Carlton





    23-1867-03

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing March 31 - April 4,

  3         2003, as "Florida Ocean Education Week" and

  4         April 3, 2003 as "Ocean Education Day."

  5  

  6         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes that coastal and

  7  ocean resources are vital to quality of life and economic

  8  vitality of the state, and

  9         WHEREAS, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Florida Ocean

10  Alliance, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography believe in

11  the importance of educating Florida's schoolchildren in marine

12  science and the need to protect and conserve our valuable

13  marine resources, and

14         WHEREAS, the SeaTrek and JASON distance learning

15  programs bring live, interactive marine science curriculum to

16  students throughout Florida through the use of Internet2 and

17  satellite technology, and

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

19  conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty,

20  pursuant to Section 7, Article II, of the Florida

21  Constitution, and

22         WHEREAS, Florida is the only state in the contiguous

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

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

25         WHEREAS, over 75 percent of Florida's residents live

26  within its coastal counties, and

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

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

29  that future generations will enjoy healthy ocean and coastal

30  resources, and

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003        (NP)                      SR 2696
    23-1867-03




 1         WHEREAS, oceans provide the basis for a significant

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

 3  well-being, and

 4         WHEREAS, tourism is Florida's largest industry,

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

 6  more than $40 billion in taxable spending each year, and

 7         WHEREAS, recreational boating depends on Florida's

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

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

10  approximately $900 million annually, and

11         WHEREAS, Florida's 14 deepwater ports handle over $40

12  billion worth of imports and exports and are expected to reach

13  $130 billion in trade by 2005; and serve over 80 percent of

14  homeport cruise passenger movements in North America, and

15         WHEREAS, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Florida Ocean

16  Alliance, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography are

17  organizing ocean-related exhibitions and a reception for

18  legislators and governmental officials at the State Capitol

19  during "Ocean Education Week," and

20         WHEREAS, the Florida Ocean Alliance is a nonprofit,

21  nonpartisan, public-private partnership of ocean-related

22  interests working to promote awareness and understanding of

23  the ocean's importance to the ecology and economy of Florida

24  and its neighbors, NOW, THEREFORE,

25  

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

27  

28         That the Florida Senate does recognize the week of

29  March 31 to April 4, 2003, as "Ocean Education Week," and

30  April 3, 2003, as "Ocean Education Day" to promote public

31  awareness of the importance of Florida's ocean resources.

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