Resolution 186-1988
,
Commissioner William Freeman
RESOLUTION NO. 186-1988
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMIS-
SIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, OPPOSING
THE PRACTICE OF DIVING FOR SPONGES IN MONROE
COUNTY.
WHEREAS, sponge fishing is one of the oldest and most
traditional of the local fishing industries and is deeply
embedded in the history and culture of the Florida Keys, and
WHEREAS, the sponge fishing industry is an important part of
the local economy employing a large number of native fishermen
who rely on sponge fishing for their livelihood, and
WHEREAS, sponge divers are once again attempting to destroy
the local sponge resource by attempting to change the existing
law so that they may dive for sponges in the Florida Keys for
their own benefit and to the detriment of Monroe County, and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to assume that once sponge divers
are allowed to dive in Monroe County that they will use
electronic equipment to run underwater grid lines throughout all
existing sponge fishing areas and take every harvestable sponge,
and
WHEREAS, such a practice would not only destroy the local
sponge industry but would wipe out the sponge beds as well, and
WHEREAS, the impact of a complete taking of substantially
the entire local sponge resource would have a devastating effect
on the underwater environment not only on the existing sponges
but on other marine species which use the sponges as a natural
habitat, and
WHEREAS, the local practice of hooking sponges from boats is
a reasonable method of harvesting large sponges while at the same
time, because of its own limitations, has resulted in a
continuous replenishment of the sponge beds, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. That the Board hereby firmly resolves to oppose
the practice of diving for sponges in Monroe County.
Section 2. That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a
certified copy of this Resolution to the Marine Fisheries
Commission, Attention Robert Palmer, 2540 Executive Center
Circle, West, Suite 106, Tallahasse, Florida 32301.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the 5 e.D day of
"^- ~)
, A.D. 1988.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
?
BY:~~~~
Mayor .Pro Tern
(SEAL)
Attes t :DAl.JNY L. KOLI-lP..GE, Clerk
~(J~JrI'--c ,nC ~
. ..Cf". .....'''... t:' , I>...'~ 7'0 r.(I,"[>~:
;....' '.' . -'.- ' . .,,) '....,.- ..' "
" ., ;.~:=r~"~/l?
- ,_.- /
-.- l~tr..~'nr.-;.\t"[' O/fi~~'e "
2