Item B2
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: February 18, 2004
Division:
BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes
No ---.2L
Department: DISTRICT 5
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Proclamation to declare the month of March, 2004 as
SEAGRASS AWARENESS MONTH..
ITEM BACKGROUND:
SEE ATTACHED.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
N/A
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNTPERMONTH_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management_
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: ~ ~
MAYOR Y E. NELSON
DOCUMENTATION: Included X To Follow_ Not Required_
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #~
JMapor' g
tlroclamation
WHEREAS, the seagrass community of Soutlt 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 oil seagrass habitat during some part of their life
cycles including pink shrimp, lobster, red fish, and stone cmb; and
WHEREAS, in 2002 alone, seagrass communities in Monroe supported an estimated harvest of
roughly $32.8 million for six commercial speci~s 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
c
WHEREAS, the seagrass community supports hundreds of species of fish at various stages of their
development; and
c
<
~
1
~
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, by virtue of the poW'er vested in me as Mayor of Monroe County, Florida, I,
Murray E. Nelson, do hereby proclaim the month of March, 2004 as
SEAGRASS AWARENESS MONTH
WITNESS my hand and seal of the County of Monroe, Florida this 18th day of February, 2004.
~..:;~
~
~
i