Senate Bill sb3016

    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 3016

    By Senator Crist





    12-2187-07

  1                        Senate Resolution

  2         A resolution commending the Florida Aquarium's

  3         dedication to preserving, protecting, and

  4         educating the public about the natural habitats

  5         and ecological systems of this state and

  6         recognizing April 11, 2007, as "Florida

  7         Aquarium Day."

  8  

  9         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium first opened to the

10  public on March 31, 1995, and

11         WHEREAS, since that day the Florida Aquarium has

12  welcomed more than 7 million visitors and enjoys an annual

13  attendance greater than 600,000, and

14         WHEREAS, every year more than 100,000 school children

15  visit the Florida Aquarium, many of whom might otherwise never

16  have access to an aquarium facility, and

17         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium annually provides

18  continuing education courses in marine sciences for more than

19  1,000 teachers from across the state which meet the Sunshine

20  State Standards, and

21         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium houses 35 permanent

22  exhibits in four main galleries - Wetlands, Bays and Beaches,

23  Coral Reefs, and Sea Hunt - providing a visual and hands-on

24  overview of Florida's ecological systems, and

25         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium contains more than 20,000

26  aquatic plants and animals representing more than 1,800

27  species, and

28         WHEREAS, the centerpiece exhibit of the Florida

29  Aquarium is a one-half million gallon Coral Reef Saltwater

30  Exhibit showcasing more than 2,300 fish from 150 species, and

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    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 3016
    12-2187-07




 1         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium is home to successful

 2  rescue and rehabilitation programs for the Florida otter and

 3  sea turtle, and

 4         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium offers summer programs

 5  for students from across the state which are highly successful

 6  and annually sell out, and

 7         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium offers guest dive

 8  experiences called "Swim With Fishes" and "Dive With The

 9  Sharks" 7 days a week, allowing divers to experience the

10  beauty and majesty of this state's bays and oceans within the

11  safety and security of the aquarium's tanks, and

12         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium's exhibits continue to

13  grow and now include, among others, "Aquarimania! Crazy About

14  Fish Tanks," which opened in 2006; "Explore A Shore," a

15  2.2-acre water adventure park for children, and the adjacent

16  Tampa Tribune Cantina, a sit-down dining experience, both of

17  which opened in 2004; "Fantasy Island," an outdoor classroom

18  highlighting the importance of the state's natural habitat,

19  which opened in 2002; "Invaders! Florida's Most Unwanted

20  Species" and the Eco Tour Boat "Bay Spirit," both of which

21  became available to visitors in 2001; "No Boat Zone," a

22  Pacific touch tank featuring anemones and starfish, which

23  opened in 2000; and "Dragons Down Under," which opened in

24  1999, and

25         WHEREAS, in 2006 the Florida Aquarium, in partnership

26  with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, installed the Tampa Bay Devil

27  Rays Touch Tank beyond the centerfield wall at Tropicana Field

28  in St. Petersburg, and

29         WHEREAS, the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay Devil

30  Rays have joined together again to expand and improve the

31  Lobby Touch Tank at the Florida Aquarium, and

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    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 3016
    12-2187-07




 1         WHEREAS, in the summer of 2006, the Florida Aquarium

 2  began Penguin Promenade, a twice daily guest experience

 3  featuring two African black-footed penguins, Sunny and Sandy,

 4  in a no-borders, no-boundaries, face-to-face experience for

 5  all guests, NOW, THEREFORE,

 6  

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

 8  

 9         That the Florida Senate commends the Florida Aquarium

10  for its dedication to preserving, protecting, and educating

11  the public about this state's natural habitats and ecological

12  systems in an exciting, dynamic, and hands-on fashion and

13  recognizes April 11, 2007, as "Florida Aquarium Day."

14         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution,

15  with the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the

16  Florida Aquarium and to the Chair of the Board of Directors of

17  the Florida Aquarium as a tangible token of the sentiments of

18  the Florida Senate.

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