Item B2
Board of County Commissioners
Agenda Item Summary
Meeting Date: February 21/ 2001
Bulk Item: Yes CJ No IiII
Division: Board of County Commissioners
George R. Neugent
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Presentation of Mayor's Proclamation recognizing the month of March, 2001 as
Seagrass Awareness Month.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION:
TOTAL COST:
COST TO COUNTY: $ ~ ~
REVENUE PRODUCING: YES CJ NO CJ AMT PER MONTH: YEAR:
BUDGETED: YES CJ NO CJ
NTY ATTY CJ OMB/PURCHASING CJ RISK MANAGEMENT CJ
DOCUMENTATION: INCLUDED r!I TO FOLLOW CJ NOT REQUIRED CJ
DISPosmON:
AGENDA ITEM #
'.BZ
~,
,
~
r
,
.
t
~
)
r
)
~
,
~
~
j
\~\\
\
'-
'r
i .
. :fflap or' 5
llroclamation
.~
~,
WHEREAS, the seagrass community of South Florida is the largest seagrass
meadow in the world and has helped create and sustain the world class fishing in the
Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, in 1999 alone, seagrass commumtles in Monroe supported an
estimated harvest of roughly $59 million for six commercial species of fish and shellfish;
and
WHEREAS, while there are 1.5 million acres of seagrass in Monroe County,
Florida over 30,000 acres in South Florida have propeller scars; and
WHEREAS, seagrass stabilizes bottom sediments and helps to absorb the excess
nutrients from land run-off which can further damage the quality of our waters; and
WHEREAS, the seagrass community supports hundreds of species of fish at
various stages of their development; and
WHEREAS, awareness of the problems facing this vital natural resource will help
to create an understanding of the ways seagrass damage can impact both the economic
and ecological value of our marine resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT by virtue of the power in me as Mayor
of Monroe County, Florida I, George R. Neugent; do hereby proclaim the month of
March, 2001 as
SEAGRASS AWARENESS MONTH
in Monroe County and encourage the community to observe this month with appropriate
recognition.
DATED this 21u, day of February, 2001
'::.&.: ~<!If"Ilo.
_ .... _ .... "W""a... ~