Issues, Florida Chapter

Coastal and Marine Issues

The more pressing issues in Florida are Red Tide, the threat of off shore drilling, Manatee deaths, beach renourishment, coastal wetland (which are the nurseries of our oceans) loss to sprawl, pollution from sewage spills, agriculture and phosphate mining and decimation of some of our fish species from overfishing.

Threats

While we have been fighting these issues for years, it is time to step up our efforts and use all avenues available to us. We will be working with the Atlantic Coast Eco-region in their campaigns to save the Right Whale and fight offshore drilling.

Goals

Our Coastal Campaign Committee will continue to coordinate our efforts as many issues transcend just one issue committee. I have also set up a coastal and marine listserve for the chapter to make it easier for activists to keep informed. Also in my role as chair of the national marine committee I will the flow of information open between chapter and national.

Legislative

We will monitor any activity of the Florida Legislature and Congress.

Congress is contemplating legislation on both off shore drilling and fisheries.

Further Actions

We have an active red tide campaign with two staff assigned plus a staff person working on fisheries and will step in wherever necessary on any of our issues.

Recent Achievements

We have made substantial progress in public education and awareness of red tide off shore drilling and fisheries.

What Can You Do?

Volunteer to help on the committee or respond to action alerts when they receive them.