HR 9103 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution designating March 31-April 4, 2003, as "Ocean
3	Education Week" and April 3, 2003, as "Ocean Education
4	Day" in Florida.
5
6	WHEREAS, Florida is the only state in the contiguous United
7	States bordered on three sides by the sea and, with over 8,000
8	miles of continuous tidal shoreline and more than 75 percent of
9	its citizens living in counties lying along its shores, its
10	coastal and ocean resources are vital to the state's quality of
11	life, providing the basis for a significant part of its
12	economic, ecological, and social well-being, and
13	WHEREAS, tourism, Florida's largest industry, generating
14	more than $40 billion in taxable spending each year, depends in
15	large part on the oceans and beaches, as does recreational
16	boating, which contributes over $3.5 billion per year to the
17	state's economy, and commercial fishing, which is valued at
18	approximately $900 million annually; and the state's 14
19	deepwater ports handle over $40 billion worth of imports and
20	exports, are expected to reach $130 billion in trade by 2005,
21	and serve over 80 percent of homeport cruise passenger movements
22	in North America, and
23	WHEREAS, acutely aware of the need to coordinate the
24	protection, enhancement, and management of the state's ocean
25	resources, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Florida Institute of
26	Oceanography, and the Florida Ocean Alliance, a nonprofit,
27	nonpartisan, public-private partnership of ocean-related
28	interests, place great emphasis on educating Florida's school
29	children in marine science, and the Sea Trek and JASON distance
30	learning programs bring live interactive marine science
31	curriculum to students throughout Florida through the use of
32	Internet2 and satellite technology, and
33	WHEREAS, in their efforts to promote awareness and
34	understanding of the ocean's importance to the ecology and
35	economy of Florida and its neighbors, Mote Marine Laboratory,
36	the Florida Institute of Oceanography, and the Florida Ocean
37	Alliance have organized ocean-related exhibitions and a
38	reception for Legislators and governmental officials at the
39	Capitol during "Ocean Education Week," NOW, THEREFORE,
40
41	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
42	Florida:
43
44	That, in recognition of the importance of Florida's ocean
45	resources, and in an effort to promote public awareness of the
46	need to protect these resources, the House of Representatives
47	designates March 31-April 4, 2003, as "Ocean Education Week" and
48	April 3, 2003, as "Ocean Education Day" in Florida.