Item C1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Wed" February 21, 2006
Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes
No XX
Department: Mayor Di Gennaro, District 4
Staff Contact Person: Tamara Lundstrom
(305 289-6000)
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Proclamation to declare March 2007 as "Seagrass Awareness
Month."
ITEM BACKGROUND: This is the ninth year that the Mayor has proclaimed Seagrass
Awareness Month in Monroe County. The proclamation is beiug issued for March 2007 based
on a request from the Seagrass Outreach Partnership, an informal group of resource managers,
educators, fishing guides, and concerned citizens who are dedicated to reducing boating impacts
to seagrass meadows through boater education.
Seagrass meadows are valuable habitats to the people of Monroe Couuty for many reasons.
They provide food and shelter for a host of fish, birds, and invertebrates, including many
commercial and recreational species. Prop scarring and other boating impacts can be prevented,
thereby reducing the damage done to this valuable habitat.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTH_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management_
DOCUMENTATION:
Included XX
Not Required_
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 2/05
WHEREAS, the seagrass community of South Horida 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 during some part
of their life cycles including pink shrimp, lobster, red fish, snapper, and stone crab; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 alone, seagrass communities in Monroe County supported an
estimated harvest of roughly $25.8 million for six commercial species of fish and
shellfish; and
WHEREAS, while there are 1.5 million acres of seagrass in Monroe County, Florida oyer
30,000 acres in South FIOlida 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 yarious
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, r, MARIO DT GENNARO, as Mayor of Monroe County, by the power
vested in me, do hereby proclaim the month of March, 2007 as
SEAGRASS AWARENESS MONTH
DATED this 21 st day of February, 2007
MARIO DI GENNARO
MA YOK MONROE COUNTY