Resolution 201-2006
Commissioner Rice
RESOLUTION NO. 2Ql- 2006
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OPPOSING FEDERAL LEGISLATION H.R. 5018
wmCH PROPOSES CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARIES, AFFECTING THE FLORIDA KEYS.
WHEREAS, the U. S. House of Representatives currently is considering H.R. 5018 to be
cited as the "American Fisheries Management and Marine Life Enhancement Act," amending the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 5018 makes commercial and recreational fishing the primary use of
sanctuaries, in effect amending the Sanctuaries Act's goal of managing for all uses compatible
with the primary goal of resource protection; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1.
The Board of County Commissioners opposes H.R. 5018.
Section 2.
Reasons for opposing the Bill are:
(a) See 10(d) of H.R. 5018 makes commercial and recreational fishing the primary use of
sanctuaries, in effect amending the Sanctuaries Act's goal of managing for all uses
compatible with the primary goal of resource protection, by making the Magnuson Act, with
its economic goals, controlling over all other sanctuary purposes.
(b) This fundamental change is exactly opposite of what thousands of marine scientists tell
us is needed today which is to restore degraded marine ecosystems through creation of
marine protected areas, including some marine reserves in which fishing is limited or
prohibited.
(c) The Keys Sanctuary has set aside 6 % of its waters in reserves, leaving the rest of the
sanctuary open to fishing.
(d) The bill calls for bifurcating the management of the sanctuaries between fishery bodies
and the NOAA sanctuaries program, which is inefficient and costly.
(e) The legislation is not need because fishery interests have multiple points in the sanctuary
designation and management plan process to have their views heard.
(f) Section lO(d) is a major amendment that has not had the scrutiny or public input it
deserves, including that of the State of Florida or local governments affected by the
legislation.
HR5018 Sanctuary changes May 2006.doc
5/1112006 H9:00 PM
Commissioner Rice
(g) The bill, if passed, will have the following negative impacts on the Florida Keys:
. Fishery management bodies will have the authority to amend the Keys management plan,
and open the marine reserves to fishing;
. Opening the reserves to commercial and recreational fishing will undo all the hard work
achieved over the last 15 years to make the Keys an ecological showcase and provide
benefits to a wider variety of users, and not just the fishing industry;
. Passage of the bill would reverse the goals of the Sanctuary Act of marine life and
resource protection.
Section 3. If Section 1 O( d) is not dropped out of the bill before markup it is imperative that
the bill, or at least that section, be opposed from the floor of the House.
Section 4. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is hereby requested to lead the Florida.
delegation in opposition to the anti-sanctuary provision.
Section 5. The Clerk is directed to send copies of this resolution to Representatives Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, Clay Shaw, Connie Mack, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and Mario Diaz-Balart.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 16th day of Mav . A.D., 2006.
Mayor Charles "Sonny" McCoy Yes
MayorProTem Dixie M. Spehar vpo
Commissioner George Neugent Yeo<
Commissioner David Rice Yes
Commissioner District V V"r"nt
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MONROE COUNTY. RillA
BY:
LES "SONNY" McCOY
(SEAL)
ATI'EST: .~LHAGE'CLERK
BYC1?, ~PUTY CLERK
i5 0
z ):>
:::0(")%
0.....%
M;X-<
("). r-
oC'>'
c:-~
z?c~
-{ r".
_/<J ~\'._
--.. --i--
:,., . J~'"
..... <:;')
MONROE COUNTY ATTO EY. M
M'
HR5018 Sanctuary changes May 2006.doc
5/1 InOO6 4A9:00 PM
~
Data
N
c:::o .."
c:::o
en r-
:z m
,.. CI
-<
N .."
N 0
;;Q
-0 ;>;)
:r:: m
C")
- 0
.. ;U
~ 0
Co)