Resolution 442-2021 D c0
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 442 -2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE, COUNTY, FLORIDA
COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
CREATION OF THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
SYSTEM.
WHEREAS, the United States ushered in a new era of ocean conservation when Congress
enacted the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, which created the
National Marine Sanctuary System; and
WHEREAS, since then, the National Marine Sanctuaries program has grown into a
nationwide network of 15 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments that
conserve more than 620,000 square miles of spectacular ocean and Great Lakes waters, an
area nearly the size.of Alaska; and
WEHREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the U.S.
Department of Commerce, has operated the national marine sanctuary system; and
WHEREAS, national marine sanctuaries and monuments support coastal communities and
drive local economies by providing jobs and opportunities for people to discover, recreate, and
form life-long connections with these spectacular places; and
WEHREAS, sanctuaries connect people and communities through science, education, and
stewardship; and
WHEREAS, these networks inspire community-based solutions that help us understand and
protect our nation's most spectacular underwater habitats, wildlife, archaeological wonders, and
cultural seascapes; and
WHEREAS, in 1975 Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary joined Monitor as the first two
designated sites; and
WHEREAS, Looe Key was added to the system in 1981; and
WHEREAS, on November 16, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act into law, forming a new sanctuary in the Florida
Keys; and
WHEREAS, with this designation, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) put
several protective measures in place to prohibit oil exploration or mining and many other types
of activities that would alter the balance of the ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, some of the notable measures adopted by the FKNMS to protect the Florida
Keys marine resources, including establishing:
• an Area to Be Avoided zone, which helped protect the fragile ecosystem by prohibiting
vessels larger than 164 feet(50 meters)from entering shallow coastal waters;
• a mooring buoy program as an innovative and effective tool for preventing anchor
damage along coral reefs;
• the Water Quality Protection Program, which has succeeded in implementing projects to
improve and protect water-quality in the Florida Keys, including canal water quality
improvements, research and monitoring, and the development of educational materials;
WHEREAS, since establishment, the FKNMS has supported critical research projects by
private and public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and individuals to further
understanding of sanctuary resources; and
WHEREAS, key areas of scientific investigation include coral health and restoration, disease
vectors and treatments, status and trends of keystone species such as sea turtles and sharks,'
and climate change impacts such as ocean acidification; and
WHEREAS, over the past 30 years, collaborative efforts to document underwater historical
resources in the FKNMS have created the Shipwreck Trail, which provides historical and
archaeological information about nine distinct shipwreck sites within the sanctuary; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center has welcomed 750,000 residents,
families, school groups, and visitors from over 85 countries since it opened in 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Eco-Discovery Center has housed world-renowned artists displaying their
unique projects, served as a stage for leading scientists to share their work, and been a place of
refuge for rescued corals; and
WHEREAS, the Eco-Discovery Center has provided more than 18,500 students with an
engaging and interactive platform to learn more about the natural and cultural wonders that
make the Florida Keys unique; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 the FKNMS announced the start of an unprecedented, 20 year project
to restore seven coral reefs along the Florida Keys, using the best available restoration science
with a mission of restoring diverse, reef building corals at seven sites in the Keys; and
WHEREAS, as we look toward the future, we fully embrace our responsibility to protect
these spectacular places like the FKNMS and ensure the National Marine Sanctuary System
remains a source of pride and enjoyment for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, in the next year, NOAA will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National
Marine Sanctuary System.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT:
1. The Board joins NOAA in commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National
Marine Sanctuary System; and
2. On behalf of the residents and visitors of Monroe County, the Board thanks NOAA
and the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary for its efforts in preserving and restoring our
precious marine assets in the Florida Keys.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held on the 17th day of November, 2021, in Key
West, Florida.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
Commissioner Eddie Martinez Yes
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
0.,.. Ct@Q. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
re ti OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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.. ST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
By:gavvt-2-14"^-1'6-
As Deputy Clerk
` Digitally signed by Robert B.Shlllinger
DN:cn=Robert B.5hlllinger,o.B.O.C.C.of Monroe County,FL ---.
Robert B. Shillinger\'ou=County Attomey,email=shlllinger-bob@monroecounty-
fl.gov,cUS --
Dete:2021.11.19 1653:12-05'00' e—
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Approved as to form and legal sufficiency �'
By Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney n= _ ={
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