Contact: Lenore Alpert/ 954-762-5255
            For Immediate Release

 FLORIDA’S  LEGISLATURE AND  CABINET 

PROCLAIM FLORIDA OCEANS WEEK AND DAY 

MIAMI – April 2, 2001  Florida legislators and cabinet are celebrating Florida Oceans Week to promote public awareness and stewardship of the state’s ocean resources.  Healthy oceans are critical  to Florida’s economy  and promote sustainable resources for all Floridians.

The Florida Senate,  House of Representatives and  Cabinet are proclaiming  April 2 through 8 as Florida Oceans Week, designating April 4 as Florida Oceans Day.   A Florida Oceans Week celebration is being held in Tallahassee on April 4 to recognize the importance of Florida’s coastal and ocean resources.   Florida Oceans Day events in Tallahassee are being sponsored and organized by the Florida Ocean Alliance, the Florida Institute of Oceanography and Mote Marine Laboratory.

Florida Oceans Week also coincides with the Oceanology International Americas Conference  2001 taking place in Miami, April 2 through 5.  This world-class joint ocean forum and exhibition is Oceanology International’s inaugural Americas Conference.  Over a dozen  scientific meetings and workshops are occurring during the conference, with  over 300 exhibitors and some  3,000 visitors.  The event is free and  people may  register online at www.oiamericas.com/registration/registration.htm.  A press conference is scheduled on April 2 at noon at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

 “The Florida Ocean Alliance is very pleased that the Florida Cabinet  and Legislature  recognize the importance of Florida’s oceans and their relationship to our state’s ecology and economy,” said Nancy Wheatley, Alliance chair and senior vice president of Safety and Environment for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  “We hope  this recognition will draw  the public’s attention to Florida’s ocean and coastal resources and  encourage their protection and management for future generations.”

On April 4, Florida Oceans Day events in Tallahassee include ocean-related exhibits by Florida universities and private research groups for legislators and government officials.  Other activities that day include a joint legislative briefing on “Ocean Priorities for Florida” by Dr. Sylvia Earle, world-renowned scientist, author, Explorer in Residence at National Geographic Society and former chief scientist at NOAA.

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.

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