Resolution 019A-1968RESOLUTION NO. 19-A -1968
WHEREAS, South Florida waters are blessed with a rich, diverse
fauna, including numerous species valuable to both sport and commercial
fisheries; habitats range from shallow grassbeds and coral reefs to the deep
water pelagic environment of the Gulf Stream; important commercial fish-
eries land large catches of shrimp, crawfish, crabs and fishes; sport fish-
ermen come from all over the world to angle for snook, tarpon, bonefish,
kingfish, sailfish, marlin and other game fishes; a large part of Florida's
wealth comes from these waters, the only truly tropical marine environ-
ment bordering the Continental United States, and
WHEREAS, Florida Bay is the largest fishing ground and nursery area
in these waters, with hundreds of square miles of productive shallows,
stretching all the way from the mainland to the Keys, and for both sport and
commercial fisheries, the Bay is a key- area in, the South Florida marine
littoral, and
WHEREAS, for a number of years there has been a gradual decline in
Florida Bay populations of many important game and commercial fishes;
tarpon are not so numerous as they were; crawfish catches have been dis-
appointing; the shrimp fishery has had its difficulties; moreover, although
many explanations suggest themselves, the ecology of the area is so little
known that no one really can point to the cause, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida realizes the above facts, and the importance of this matter to the
residents of Monroe County, Florida, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that said Board does urge an immediate,
adequate study of the ecology of Florida Bay and its fish populations as out-
lined by the National Park Service in its "Everglades Natural Sciences Re-
search Plan" and further developed by the Institute of Marine Science, Uni-
versity of Miami and the sponsoring organization, Florida Bay Research
Council of Islamorada.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY SAID BOARD, that the Clerk of said
Board be, and he is hereby directed to forward certified copies of this
Resolution to the Florida Bay Research Council of Islamorada, Senator
Spessard L. Holland, Senator George Smathers and Representative,Dante
B. Fascell, for appropriate action.
Dated March 12th, 1968.