Seagrass Awareness Month Proclamation
WHEREAS, Biscayne Bay's seagrass community supports hundreds of species of fish, sea turtles, manatees and other wildlife at various stages of their development and provides multiple functions that contribute to a healthy and viable marine ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, seagrass habitats help protect Miami-Dade County's water quality by stabilizing bottom sediments and helping to absorb the excess nutrients from land run-off; and
WHEREAS, many recreational and commercial fishery species require a healthy seagrass habitat, including stone crab, shrimp, spiny lobster, yellowtail snapper, gray snapper and blue crab and in 2008 alone, seagrass communities in Miami-Dade County contributed to an estimated $2.8 million commercial harvest of these species; and
WHEREAS, while more than 145,650 acres of seagrass were reported in Miami-Dade County in 1995, more than 11,000 acres had propeller scars and county residents and visitors are encouraged to help raise awareness about reducing impacts and preserving the delicate seagrass in this area; and
WHEREAS, awareness of the dangers facing seagrass, a vital natural resource, will help to create an understanding of the ways seagrass damage can impact both the economic and ecological value of our marine resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Carlos Alvarez, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I, Dennis C. Moss, Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, and I, Katy Sorenson, Sponsoring Commissioner of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim March 2009 as Seagrass Awareness Month.
Our thanks to Pamela Sweeney of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve for this information.
On Thursday morning March 5th, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson (District 8) will read aloud in chambers the second-ever Seagrass Awareness Month Proclamation in Miami-Dade County. Our current and former Governors have proclaimed March to be Seagrass Awareness Month at the state level to highlight for the public both the ecological and economic importance of Florida's seagrass beds. Biscayne Bay's seagrass beds are expansive and lush—and even rare, in the case of Halophila johnsonii (Johnson's grass), our threatened seagrass species whose worldwide distribution includes only parts of Biscayne Bay. Our local seagrasses provide shelter and food for countless species of marine organisms as well as shoreline protection from storms and clear bay waters. Environmental organizations of South Florida, including Wildlife Research Team, are grateful to the Mayor and the Commission for their recognition of these essential natural resources.
