Below is a brief description of the fourth public meeting, the second in a series of nine regional meetings, and the meeting agenda (including links to speakers' written statements, where available).

The Commission will hold its fourth public meeting, the Florida and Caribbean Regional meeting, February 22, 2002 at the Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, FL. This is the second in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. The Florida and Caribbean Regional meeting will provide regional, state, and local government agencies and non-governmental organizations the opportunity to discuss with the Commission ocean and coastal issues of interest or concern to the State of Florida and the Caribbean area. In addition to the public meeting on February 22, the Commissioners will spend February 21 gaining first hand knowledge of important regional issues through site visits in and around Tampa Bay, FL; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Commission will use the information received at the meeting to help formulate its recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy, as required by the Oceans Act of 2000.

Meeting Location

First Floor Auditorium
Florida Marine Research Institute
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
St. Petersburg, Florida


Agenda

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22

MORNING SESSION - 8:00 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.

8:00 a.m. - Welcome by The Honorable Richard Baker, Mayor of St. Petersburg

8:05-8:30 a.m. - The Honorable David Struhs (pdf, 60kb) - Secretary, Environmental Protection, State of Florida

8:30-10:10 a.m. - Accommodating Coastal Growth

• Dr. Charles Groat (pdf, 92kb) – Director, U.S. Geological Survey – How can Federal science best contribute to issues associated with coastal population growth?
• Rear Admiral James Carmichael – Commander, 7th District, U.S. Coast Guard – Emerging operational challenges in the Southeast
• Mr. John LaCapra (pdf, 12kb) – President, Florida Ports Council - Ports and navigation
• Dr. Jeffrey Chanton (pdf, 88kb) – Professor, Department of Oceanography, Florida State University - Non-point source pollution - science implications for management

10:10-10:30 p.m. - Break/Media Availability

10:30-11:45 a.m. - Management of Coasts and Oceans

• Dr. LaVerne Ragster (pdf, 132kb) – Senior Vice President and Provost, University of the Virgin Islands – Ocean policy concerns in the Virgin Islands
• Mr. Ken Haddad (pdf, 124kb) – Director, Florida Marine Research Institute, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, State of Florida - State/Federal partnership issues, regulatory processes, and conflicts
• Mr. James Murley (html)– Director, FAU Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems – Florida’s Ocean Policy – development and integration with Federal laws and programs

11:45a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Commission Business

• Minutes, Southeast Regional Meeting (January 15-16, 2002)
• Ratification of Science Advisory Panel
• Approval of Investment Working Group Membership and Issue Paper
• Discussion of Report Drafting Timeline
• Discussion of Goals Document

12:30 -1:15 p.m. - Lunch and Executive Session

(top)

AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

1:15-2:15 p.m. - Public Comment

2:15-3:30 p.m. - Ecosystem Management

• Dr. John Reynolds (pdf, 84kb) – Chairman, Marine Mammal Commission – Intersections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act with the Endangered Species Act and Magnuson-Steven Fishery Conservation and Management Act
• Mr. Billy Causey (pdf, 144kb) – Director, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – Zoning as an approach to sanctuary management
• Mr. David White (pdf, 144kb) – Director, Florida Regional Office, The Ocean Conservancy – Marine Protected Areas as an Ecosystem Management Tool

3:30-3:40 p.m. - Break

3:40-5:10 p.m. - Economic Development

• Mr. Edwin Moore (pdf, 96kb) – President and Chief Executive Officer, James Madison Institute – Offshore oil and gas development in Florida
• Mr. Frank Jackalone – Senior Regional Representative, Sierra Club and Chair, Everglades Coalition – Public concern with offshore oil and gas development
• Mr. Dick Monroe (pdf, 100kb) – Vice President of Environmental Relations, Darden Restaurants – Policy concerns in the consumer seafood market
• Ms. Julie Morris (pdf, 116kb) – Coordinator, New College Environmental Studies Program and Member, Gulf of Mexico Fisheries management Council – Fisheries Management

5:10-5:20 p.m. - Break
 

5:20-6:30 p.m. - Ocean Science and Education
 

• Dr. Otis Brown (pdf, 80kb) – Dean, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami – Funding and prioritizing ocean science
• Dr. Peter Betzer – Dean, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida – Transitioning emerging technologies from research to operations
• Dr. Ellen Prager (pdf, 84kb) – Assistant Dean, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami - Integration of Research and Education
   

6:30 p.m. - Adjourn