Item B1BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: March 19, 2008 Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes X No Department: Dist.3
Staff Contact /Phone #: Tammy Sweeting
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Presentation of Mayor's Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of March Seagrass Awareness Month.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: BUDGETED: Yes
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management _
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required
DISPOSITION:
Revised 11/06
AGENDA ITEM #
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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, many commercial fishery species rely on seagrass habitat daring some part
of their life cycles including pink shrimp, lobster, red fish, snapper, and stone crab; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 alone, seagrass communities in Monroe County supported an
estimated harvest of roughly $22.5 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 cm 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 fad this vital na i al 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, PerefoM by virtuue of the power vested in me as of
M oC I do hereby proclaim the month of March, 2008 as
W11
SEAGRASS AWARENESS MONTH
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Monroe County Mayor Charles "Sonny" McCoy
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