| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution designating March 12, 2008, as "Florida |
| 3 | Oceans Day." |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, with 1,350 miles of coastline, Florida has the |
| 6 | second longest coastline among the 50 states in the nation, and |
| 7 | WHEREAS, the gross state product of Florida's shoreline |
| 8 | economy is estimated to be approximately $402 billion annually, |
| 9 | more than two and a half times the estimated $160 billion gross |
| 10 | state product of its inland economy, and represents 77 percent |
| 11 | of the state's total economy, and |
| 12 | WHEREAS, by the year 2015, ocean tourism and recreation in |
| 13 | Florida is projected to grow by 73 percent, creating more than |
| 14 | 268,000 new jobs, and |
| 15 | WHEREAS, from 1990 to 2003, Florida's coastal counties |
| 16 | increased employment by 31 percent, increased wages by 48 |
| 17 | percent, and increased the gross state product by 63 percent, at |
| 18 | rates exceeding those for the State of California, the Gulf |
| 19 | States, and the nation, and |
| 20 | WHEREAS, Florida's oceans and coastal resources are held in |
| 21 | trust for the people of the state and should be managed for the |
| 22 | benefit of current and future generations, and |
| 23 | WHEREAS, because Florida's welfare and the welfare of its |
| 24 | citizens is so greatly dependent upon the health and proper |
| 25 | management of its ocean and coastal systems, it has benefited |
| 26 | the state to work with such entities as the Florida Oceans and |
| 27 | Coastal Council, the Florida Ocean Alliance, and the Florida |
| 28 | Coastal and Ocean Coalition to improve the stewardship of this |
| 29 | invaluable resource, and |
| 30 | WHEREAS, Florida's coastal counties account for more than |
| 31 | 70 percent of the state's employment, population, and housing, |
| 32 | though they comprise only 56 percent of the land area of the |
| 33 | state, and |
| 34 | WHEREAS, Florida ranks as the number one travel destination |
| 35 | in the United States for Americans who swim, fish, dive, and use |
| 36 | the state's beaches, coastal wetlands, and shores, and |
| 37 | WHEREAS, Florida's economy relies heavily on its oceans and |
| 38 | shorelines and Floridians must actively use them in a |
| 39 | sustainable manner to ensure a continuing strong economy for the |
| 40 | future, and |
| 41 | WHEREAS, on Wednesday, March 12th, in the Capitol |
| 42 | Courtyard, the Florida Ocean Alliance, the Florida Institute of |
| 43 | Oceanography, and the Mote Marine Laboratory will present |
| 44 | educational exhibits from institutions around the State of |
| 45 | Florida with the theme of "Ocean Technology: Protecting |
| 46 | Florida's Oceans/Sustaining Florida's Economy," NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 47 |
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| 48 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 49 | Florida: |
| 50 |
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| 51 | That the House of Representatives, in recognition of the |
| 52 | influence that Florida's abundant and healthy oceans have on the |
| 53 | lives of Floridians, urges all Floridians to act as good |
| 54 | stewards of this priceless resource and in support of such |
| 55 | efforts designates March 12, 2008, as "Florida Oceans Day." |
| 56 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be |
| 57 | presented to the Florida Ocean Alliance, the Florida Institute |
| 58 | of Oceanography, and the Mote Marine Laboratory as a tangible |
| 59 | token of the sentiments expressed herein. |