For Immediate Release
FLORIDA OCEANS DAY HIGHLIGHTS
OCEANS OF OPPORTUNITY
TALLAHASSEE – Florida legislators are celebrating Florida Oceans Day on April 21st to promote awareness and stewardship of the state's ocean resources and its “Oceans of Opportunity”.
Oceans Day will launch at 11:00 a.m. with a press conference at the Capitol Courtyard addressing the Florida response to a report by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Commissioner Frank Muller-Karger, Florida appointee to the Presidential Commission, will provide a summary of the commission's report and formally present the document to Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen Castille for the Governor’s review.
Secretary Castille will also make a major policy announcement during the press conference. Ken Haddad of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will address recreational and commercial fishing and Tim Keeney of NOAA will discuss the importance of partnerships in ocean stewardship.
Other speakers at the press conference include Florida Ocean Alliance Board Members David McDonald of the Florida Ports Council speaking on the economic benefits of Florida’s ports; John Ogden of the Florida Institute of Oceanography and Kumar Mahadevan of Mote Marine Laboratory discussing the importance of strengthening scientific research in the management of ocean resources; David Guggenheim of the Ocean Conservancy on ocean conservation; and Vicki Tschinkel of the Nature Conservancy on the role of ecological assessment in ocean protection.
“The Florida Ocean Alliance is pleased to be working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to implement the Florida Initiatives' response to the Ocean Policy Commission's report," said Florida Ocean Alliance Chair David McDonald. "This is an opportunity to address the challenges outlined in the report in partnership with the Governor and the state’s key agencies.”
As part of the Oceans Day celebration, the Florida Ocean Alliance, Mote Marine Laboratories, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography are sponsoring a Legislative reception, ocean exhibits in the Capitol, and a Capitol luncheon to promote public awareness of the need to protect, enhance and manage Florida's resources for future generations.
The Florida Ocean Alliance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-private partnership of government, academic, and private sector organizations. Formed in 1999, the Alliance promotes awareness and understanding of the ocean’s importance to the ecology and economy of Florida. More information on the Alliance is available at its website: www.floridaoceanalliance.org. The Florida Atlantic University Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions serves as secretariat for the Florida Ocean Alliance.
The Florida Alliance Board of Directors includes: Chair David McDonald of the Florida Ports Council; Vice Chair Kumar Mahadevan, Executive Director of the Mote Marine Laboratory; Dr. James Cato of Florida Sea Grant; Dr. Andrew Clark, President of the Maritime Communications Services; Dr. Duane DeFreese, Director of Research of the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute; Timothy Edmond, President of Capital Region Arvida, a St. Joe company; Elaine Heldewier, Director of Environmental Health and Safety of Carnival Cruises; Clay Henderson, Attorney at Holland and Knight; Rob Kramer, President of the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum; Dr. John Ogden, Director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography; Dr. Shirley Pomponi, Vice President and Director of Research at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution; Dr. Ellen Prager, Consultant to the Dean at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami; Richard M. Pruitt, Director of Environmental Programs at Royal Caribbean International Cruises; Jody Thomas, Director of the Florida Keys Office of The Nature Conservancy. Staff includes James F. Murley and Dr. Lenore Alpert of the Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University.
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