Resolution 173-2018 RESOLUTION NO. 173 - 2018
A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
SUPPORTING HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BILL 5996
(H.R. 5996) REAUTHORIZING AND AMENDING THE
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000 TO
STRENGTHEN THE FEDERAL ROLE IN CORAL REEF
PROTECTION AND TO ENHANCE FEDERAL FUNDING
AND RESOURCES TO STUDY AND PROTECT CORAL
REEFS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, from tourism to marine recreation and sport fishing, coral reefs are an important part
of the State of Florida's ocean economy and play a central role in the economies of Southeast Florida's
communities. NOAA suggests that coral reefs in southeast Florida have an asset value of $8.5 billion,
generating $4.4 billion in local sales, $2 billion in local income, and 70,400 full and part-time jobs; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs are a significant habitat for fisheries. In the United States, about half of all
federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service estimates
the annual commercial value of U.S. fisheries from coral reefs to be over $100 million. Reef -based
recreational fisheries generate over $100 million annually in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Reef Tract, nearly 150 -miles long and 4 -miles wide and stretching from the
Dry Tortugas in Monroe County to Martin County, is the world's third - largest barrier reef and the only
living coral reef in the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys portion of the Florida Reef Tract is recognized and protected by
management plans of the National Marine Sanctuary, National Parks, and National Wildlife Refuges; and
WHEREAS, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Tract comprising the northern portion, extending from
Miami -Dade to Martin Counties, remains unprotected and without a State - adopted management plan
addressing its future sustainability; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs are vulnerable to harmful environmental changes, particularly those
resulting from human activities. Coral cover on many Caribbean reefs has declined up to 80 percent over
the past three decades. Southeast Florida's reefs, which are a part of the greater Caribbean/ Western Atlantic
reef province, are being monitored for diseases, bleaching, and other problems associated with human
activities. Monitoring data from the Florida Keys revealed a 44 percent decline in coral cover from 1996-
2005; and
WHEREAS, massive, region -wide bleaching events have become more common on the Florida Reef
Tract. Since 1987, six extensive coral bleaching events have affected the entire tract. Substantial mass
coral mortality occurred during the global bleaching events of 1997 -1998 and 2014 -2016; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Coral Reef Conservation
Program confirmed a significant disease event, occurring from 2014 to present, that has spread quickly and
far. In the fall of 2014, isolated sites with significant coral disease were reported near Key Biscayne in
Miami -Dade County and by fall 2015, widespread disease was confirmed across approximately 55 linear
miles of reef, including locations as far north as Pompano Beach in Broward County and as far south as
Biscayne National Park. Disease continued to spread north and south into the Florida Keys throughout
2016, and by summer of 2017 reports of widespread disease were confirmed as far north as St. Lucie Inlet
in Martin County and to the southern boundary of the Upper Keys; and
Page I 1
•
WHEREAS, at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Advisory Committee, it was reported that the Florida Reef Tract coral disease has reached the reefs off of
Long Key; and
WHEREAS, Florida Reef Tract disease outbreaks are not unprecedented, this current disease event
is unique due to its scale, high infection rate, and rapid spread; the number of coral species affected across
such a large portion of the Florida Reef Tract, estimated to have resulted in the mortality of millions of
corals; and
WHEREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that diseases
and diminishing health condition among corals throughout the Florida Reef Tract have dramatically
increased; and
WHEREAS, at the federal level there have been limited resources to address this disease outbreak
and the overall health of coral reefs. Congress passed the Coral Reef Conservation Act in 2000, which
authorized appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for coral reef
protection and management activities through 2004 and, among other activities, authorized the Coral Reef
Conservation Program (CRCP) to provide matching grants to states, territories, educational and non-
governmental institutions, and fishery management councils for coral reef conservation
projects. Authorization for the overall program expired in 2004 but Congress has continued to fund the
CRCP through the annual appropriations process; and
WHEREAS, although funding for coral reef programs has remained stable, with the program
receiving $26 million for the past several fiscal years, it has not had the authorization or resources to help
address the disease outbreak in Florida; and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation includes the following:
• Reauthorizes and amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to improve the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) coral reef program.
• Strengthens the federal response to coral reef emergencies and allowing NOAA to disburse
grant funding on an expedited or emergency basis
• Expands federal grant making for local coral reef projects, community -based coral reef
conservation planning, and scientific research on coral reef biodiversity, genetics,
prorogation and resiliency.
• Provides Congressional authorization for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which includes
relevant federal agencies, the states of Florida and Hawaii, and 5 U.S. territories (GU,
CNMI, PR, AS, and USVI).
• Establishes a new Coral Reef Conservation Fund within the U.S. Treasury supported by
offshore royalty revenue to provide dedicated funding for coral reef projects, at no expense
to taxpayers.
• Minimizes damage to coral reefs from vessel groundings, anchors, boat moorings, ship
strikes, and abandoned vessels by directing NOAA and other federal agencies to identify
practicable steps to reduce vessel impacts and accidents that harm coral reefs.
• Protects at -risk coral reefs nationwide by directing NOAA to maintain an inventory of coral
reefs most at risk from bleaching, disease /invasive species outbreaks, harmful algal
blooms, and coastal pollution.
• Provides dedicated funding for coral reef conservation at no cost to taxpayers by requiring
that all fines, penalties, and amounts recovered from damages to federally protected coral
reefs to support conservation; and
Page 1 2
f
WHEREAS, support for H.R. 5996 is consistent with Monroe County's long history of
championing protections for the Florida Reef Tract; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Endorses and supports HR 5996 reauthorizing and amending Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000
to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) coral reef program.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Members of the Monroe
County federal delegation: Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio and Representative
Carlos Curbelo.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
at a regular meeting held on the 20th day of June, 2018.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia Murphy Yes
Commissioner Danny Kolhage Yes
Commissioner George Neugent Yes
Commissioner Heather Carruthers Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
` , . -1.\,1„..
� OF MONROE U , FLO . . I A
g ,,f..),;,.. ti ., er By•
H : s Mayor — 1 avid Rice
10
J ~QA Nba 6T coo.•
• ST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
q 1 1A19110‘7E% A N Deputy Clerk i ' �'�� •till
pED•p MERCADO
ASSISTANT ♦•U 1 A /Z 1
Date
= Cm) c)
_.t1) =U
L N =L-
M lt}C
Li... o
et
Page 1 3
`Jp �° ° Kevin Madok, CPA
:O
' , ' ;o :a Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Monroe County, Florida
June 25, 2018
Honorable Senator Bill Nelson
716 Senate Hart Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Nelson,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 173 -2018 supporting House of
Representatives Bill 5996 (H.R. 5996) reauthorizing and amending the Coral Reef Conservation
Act of 2000 to strengthen the federal role in coral reef protection and to enhance federal funding
and resources to study and protect coral reefs and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on June 20, 2018. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292 -3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY PK/ROTH BUILDING
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88820 Overseas Highway 50 High Point Road
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
305 -294 -4641 305- 289 -6027 305 - 852 -7145 305 - 852 -7145
4 JR OOURTQC1I
JQ'.z MCU4.f..,I/ Kevin Madok CPA
•
; o .. Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Monroe County, Florida
, l oa cou ..= _
June 25, 2018
Honorable Senator Marco Rubio
284 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Rubio,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 173 -2018 supporting House of
Representatives Bill 5996 (H.R. 5996) reauthorizing and amending the Coral Reef Conservation
Act of 2000 to strengthen the federal role in coral reef protection and to enhance federal funding
and resources to study and protect coral reefs and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on June 20, 2018. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292 -3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex- officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY PK/ROTH BUILDING
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88820 Overseas Highway 50 High Point Road
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
305 - 294 -4641 305 - 289 -6027 305 - 852 -7145 305 - 852 -7145
��� couare \�
(f. Kevin Madok, CPA
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Monroe County, Florida
4 % of
June 25, 2018
Honorable Representative Carlos Curbelo
1404 Longworth House Office Building
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515
Honorable Representative Curbelo,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 173 -2018 supporting House of
Representatives Bill 5996 (H.R. 5996) reauthorizing and amending the Coral Reef Conservation
Act of 2000 to strengthen die federal role in coral reef protection and to enhance federal funding
and resources to study and protect coral reefs and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on June 20, 2018. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292 -3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex- officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY PK/ROTH BUILDING
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88820 Overseas Highway 50 High Point Road
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
305- 294 -4641 305- 289 -6027 305 - 852 -7145 305 - 852 -7145