Florida Senate - 2021                            (NP)    SR 1910
       
       
        
       By Senator Harrell
       
       
       
       
       
       25-02227-21                                           20211910__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing March 15, 2021, as
    3         “Oceans Day” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, coastal and ocean resources are vital to Florida’s
    6  quality of life and economic vitality, and
    7         WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State of Florida to
    8  conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty, in
    9  accordance with Section 7, Article II of the State Constitution,
   10  and
   11         WHEREAS, this state is the only state in the contiguous
   12  United States which is bordered on three sides by the sea, with
   13  more than 8,000 miles of continuous tidal shoreline, and
   14         WHEREAS, more than 75 percent of Florida’s residents live
   15  within its coastal counties, and
   16         WHEREAS, there is a need to coordinate the protection,
   17  enhancement, and management of our state’s ocean resources so
   18  that future generations will enjoy healthy ocean and coastal
   19  resources, and
   20         WHEREAS, oceans provide the basis for a significant part of
   21  this state’s economic, ecological, and social well-being, and
   22         WHEREAS, coastal counties generated more than $797 billion
   23  of economic value in Florida’s economy in 2018, more than three
   24  quarters of the state’s $1 trillion economy, and
   25         WHEREAS, more than a million jobs in Florida were directly
   26  or indirectly created by activities using ocean resources, with
   27  the ocean economy contributing $73.9 billion to the state’s
   28  economy in 2018, and
   29         WHEREAS, Florida’s “blue economy” and ocean-related
   30  industries are key drivers of economic activity and are critical
   31  to Florida’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,
   32  and
   33         WHEREAS, the Florida Ocean Alliance is a nonprofit,
   34  nonpartisan, public-private partnership of ocean-related
   35  interests which promotes awareness and understanding of the
   36  ocean’s importance to the ecology and economy of Florida and its
   37  neighbors, NOW, THEREFORE,
   38  
   39  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   40  
   41         That March 15, 2021, is recognized as “Oceans Day” in
   42  Florida, in recognition of the economic and environmental
   43  importance of Florida’s ocean resources.