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What's Going On In Our Area
Sept. 16, 2005
CALL TO ACTION
On Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at 6:15 PM, the Bradenton City
Council will hear a presentation at the City Centre/Hall by Greg Green,
Chairman of the Manatee Chamber’s Boat Docks Taskforce, on the need for
public boat docks on the Manatee River.
NEED FOR PUBLIC BOAT
DOCKS ON THE MANATEE RIVER
The Chamber
encourages your visits with, calls, emails and letters to the Mayor and
City Council on this most important issue. More importantly, if you can
attend/make comment on September 28th, that would be great!
Major points
(in your own words) to cover are:
-
There is
strong support from the community (cities, county and boating).
-
Public
(docks) would preserve land from private development and facilitate
use of Rossi Park.
-
Availability would foster downtowns as a destination/magnet for
dining, cultural activities and events.
-
Government
(state) grants are available to lessen local costs.
Please help us
by sending a letter or email, attached is contact information of the
Mayor and City Council.
Please RSVP on
your attendance plans or forward me a copy of your correspondence that
you sent to the city. Your
support is greatly appreciated!
The Honorable
Wayne Poston
City of Bradenton
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
phone: (941)
708-6200, ext. 286
wayne.poston@cityofbradenton.com
The Honorable
Gene Gallo
City of Bradenton
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
phone: (941)
708-6200, ext. 287
gene.gallo@cityofbradenton.com
The Honorable
Marianne Barnebey
City of Bradenton
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
phone: (941)
708-6200, ext. 288
marianne.barnebey@cityofbradenton.com
The Honorable
Michele Weaver
City of Bradenton
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
phone: (941)
708-6200, ext. 289
michele.weaver@cityofbradenton.com
The Honorable
Bemis Smith
City of Bradenton
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
phone: (941)
708-6200, ext. 290
bemis.smith@cityofbradenton.com
The Honorable
James Golden
City of Bradenton
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
phone: (941)
708-6200, ext. 291
james.golden@cityofbradenton.com
May 25,2005
CCA Call to Action
Your CCA needs your help.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is soliciting public comments on CCA's
recent petition requesting the U. S. Secretary of Commerce to put emergency
measures
into effect to end overfishing of red snapper by the Gulf of Mexico shrimp
fleet.
It is critical that CCA members participate in this process and express their
support of CCA's petition. We must make NMFS aware of our support for reducing
red snapper bycatch in trawls.
How can I help? By sending your comments to NMFS.
We have proposed a brief email letter you can send to NMFS at the end of this
message. If you'd like background and additional information, including our
petition
and a briefing document, go to the CCA National website and click the News
section,
http://www.JoinCCA.org <http://www.joincca.org/> .
Your email comments must bear the subject line "RSPetition" and be
addressed
to Mr. Phil Steele at RSpetition@noaa.gov <mailto:RSpetition@noaa.gov>.
Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. (ET) July 11, 2005.
Please send your comments in now! Thank you for your continued support of CCA
and marine conservation.
Regards,
Ted Venker
CCA Communications Director
RECOMMENDED EMAIL MESSAGE
RSpetition@noaa.gov <mailto:RSpetition@noaa.gov>
SUBJ: RSPetition
Mr. Phil Steele
National Marine Fisheries Service
Dear Mr. Steele,
I am a conservationist concerned about the future of red snapper. I am writing
to encourage the Secretary of Commerce to institute the measures necessary to
end the overfishing of red snapper by the shrimp fleet.
It is time for the National Marine Fisheries Service to address bycatch.
Please act favorably on the petition submitted by the Coastal Conservation
Association.
Thank you for your attention to this matter important to me.
Sincerely,
Your Name
May 25, 2005
The council has agreed to piggy back public hearings on the public
hearings already scheduled in June for reef fish amendment 18a and the
charter/headboat moratorium regarding a red grouper/shallow
water grouper recreational interim rule to be effective sometime after
July 2005. Dr. Crabtree is currently looking at a 3 fish
aggregate bag limit with 1 fish being red grouper and an October thru
December closure for 2005. The hearings already are scheduled
for June 15, orange beach, al, june 16 destin, fl, june 27, key west, fl,
june 28 naples, fl, and june 29 tampa/st. pete, fl. The council is
now working on a regulatory amendment to permanently address the rec red
grouper issue that they intend to have ready for implementation in 2006
I suggest that all interested parties be prepared to attend any public
hearing where this issue will be discussed to let their feelings be known.
As you can see the closure has been reduced from the earlier proposed 4
months to 3. If you have problems with the closure and/or the
proposed bag limits please continue to voice your opinions. The
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Daytona, Fl on June
8,9,10 and Dr. Crabtree has been invited to discuss this issue. If
you are interested in the recreational red grouper/shallow water grouper
fishery YOU NEED TO BE AT THIS MEETING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IN YOUR
AREA!!!!!! You may also want to voice your opinion to your federal
Congressional and Senatorial representatives along with Governor Bush.
Bob Zales, II
March 2005
CCA
FLORIDA
GRASSROOTS NETWORK ALERT!
LEGISLATION
TO PUT 500 SQ. FT. GILL NETS IN
FLORIDA
WATERS
WILL BE HEARD IN SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY
– MARCH 16!
CCA
MEMBERS, FISHING CLUBS AND OTHER CONSERVATION INTERESTS NEED TO CONTACT SENATORS
TO OPPOSE SB 1178!
A.
WHAT TO DO:
All CCA Florida Chapters and other Grassroots Alert members should
immediately contact their members and get them to call or e-mail the Senators
listed and urge them to:
OPPOSE
SB 1178 (by Senator Lawson) WHICH WOULD PUT 500 SQ. FT. GILL NETS IN ALL
FLORIDA
WATERS!
B.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In
1994 an overwhelming 72% of
Florida
voters said yes to the
constitutional
amendment limiting marine net fishing. The amendment includes both a prohibition
on the use of gill and entangling nets in all state waters and a size limit on
other nets. Although the restrictions have been in place for nearly ten years,
there are still factions within the commercial industry who refuse to accept the
legal reality that the constitutional prohibition on gill nets means no gill
nets.
Since
1994, there have been numerous lawsuits, attempts to create law
enforcement
loopholes, and outright scams all designed to invalidate or circumvent
provisions of the constitutional amendment. All have failed. The Florida
Legislature, Florida Courts, and state agencies have upheld the clear intent of
Florida
voters.
One
of the most common attempts to create loopholes for gill nets is to try to
change laws to allow any mesh size in nets. When the ban on gill nets was
implemented in 1995, fishermen started using nets with mesh sizes commonly used
in gill nets prior to the amendment. They claimed the nets were seine nets, even
though at the time of arrest, their nets were filled with gilled fish. To
resolve enforcement and prosecution issues, a law was adopted to establish a
distinction between legal seine nets and illegal gill nets. The law restricted
seine nets to a mesh size no larger than two inches.
The regulation setting a maximum mesh size of two inches for seine nets
was adopted to establish a “bright line” distinction between illegal gill
nets and legal seines. Commercial interests have filed numerous lawsuits against
the two inch law and all of the industry’s claims and lawsuits have been
rejected by the Courts. One of the major legal findings by the Courts was that the
two inch maximum mesh size for seine nets was “historically based, rational
and practical.”
C.
WHAT SB 1178 DOES:
SB
1178 states as follows:
“Any net constructed of braided or twisted nylon, cotton,
linen
twine, or polypropylene twine, regardless
of its mesh
size,
not exceeding 500 square feet shall not
be considered
a
gill or entangling net and may be used to harvest mullet in
the
waters of this state.” (emphasis added)
Just like previous attempts to create loopholes for gill nets, SB 1178
seeks to allow any mesh size in nets. The 500 square foot size limit repeats a
restriction which is already in the Constitution. The proposed legislation is in
direct conflict with the constitutional prohibition on gill nets and eight years
of Court decisions defining gill nets and the gill net ban.
D.
SB 1178 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON TWO COUNTS
- Article
X, Section 16(1) of the Florida Constitution clearly states that:
“No
gill or entangling nets shall be used in any
Florida
waters”
You can not pass a law saying that nets with mesh sizes that are used to
gill fish are not gill nets. The constitutional prohibition on gill nets can not
be changed by state legislation.
- Additionally,
in 1998 another constitutional amendment was adopted which
merged the
former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and the Marine Fisheries Commission
into the constitutionally independent Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC). The exclusive authority to regulate hunting and fishing rests
with the FWC. The Legislature cannot pass laws regulating deer or quail hunting,
nor can they pass laws regulating commercial fishing or other saltwater fishing
issues.
E.
THE NETTING INDUSTRY IS CLAIMING CONCERN OVER KILLING “BABY FISH”
WITH A SMALL MESH SIZE, BUT THAT IS JUST ANOTHER PLOY TO GET A LARGE MESH SIZE
TO GILL ADULT FISH.
If the commercial netting industry was genuinely concerned about fishing
gear that killed “baby fish” then they would address the massive waste and
by-kill of juvenile “baby fish” by shrimp trawls. Just one shrimp trawl
kills far more “baby fish” than all the 500 sq. ft. seines combined. Shrimp
trawls are the most wasteful piece of fishing gear in the southeastern
United States
. In 2000, the amount of finfish and other marine life by-catch (caught, killed
and discarded) by
Florida
’s shrimping industry was estimated to be 68 to 72 million pounds per year –
which was greater than the total landings of all of
Florida
’s saltwater recreational fishermen. Furthermore, the specific issue of
“baby fish” caught in smaller mesh sizes was directly addressed and rejected
by the Courts in the lawsuits filed by commercial interests.
CONTACT
THE SENATOR(S) WHICH ARE IN YOUR CHAPTER AREA – IF THERE ARE NONE SPECIFICALLY
IDENTIFIED FOR YOUR AREA CONTACT THE CLOSEST AND/OR THE COMMITTEE CHAIR.
ACT
NOW! PLEASE LET THESE SENATORS KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT WANT GILL NETS – OF ANY
SIZE – BACK IN
FLORIDA
WATERS!
URGE
THEM TO OPPOSE SB 1178!
PHONE
FAX
COMMITTEE
CHAIR:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)
850-487-5040
863-413-2902
email dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
BIG
BEND
CHAPTER:
Senator Nancy Argenziano (R)
850-487-5017
888-263-0412
email
argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Al Lawson (D)
850-487-5004
850-487-5086
email
lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov
CITRUS
CHAPTER:
Senator Nancy Argenziano (R)
850-487-5017
888-263-0412
email
argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
GAINESVILLE
CHAPTER:
Senator Rod Smith (D)
850-487-5020
352-955-6262
email smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov
HERNANDO
CHAPTER:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)
850-487-5040
863-413-2902
email dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
LAKE
CHAPTER
:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)
850-487-5040
863-413-2902
email
dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
MARTIN/ST.LUCIE
CHAPTER:
Senator JD Alexander (R)
850-487-5044
863-679-4413
email
alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov
OCALA
CHAPTER:
Senator
Carey Baker (R)
850-487-5014
352-742-6492
email
baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Nancy Argenziano (R)
850-487-5017
888-263-0412
email
argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Rod Smith (D)
850-487-5020
352-955-6262
email smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov
ORLANDO
CHAPTER:
Senator
Carey Baker (R)
850-487-5014
352-742-6492
email
baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Lee Constantine (R)
850-487-5050
407-262-7580
email constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Gary Siplin (D)
850-487-5190
407-522-2153
email siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov
POLK
CHAPTER:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)
850-487-5040
863-413-2902
email dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
Senator JD Alexander (R)
850-487-5044
863-679-4413
email
alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov
VOLUSIA
CHAPTER:
Senator
Carey Baker (R)
850-487-5014
352-742-6492
email
baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov
This
Alert Prepared by: Ted
Forsgren
Executive Director
CCA
Florida
(850) 224-3474
10-4-04
Hello Everyone,
I've attached a survey the Chamber of commerce has out on public docks and
boat ramps.
Please take a moment or two to fill this out and email of fax to the chamber
directly.
The information is at the bottom of the form.
The deadline for responses is October 20th, so please respond soon!
Thank you!
Cheryl Huntsinger
President, Manatee Co. Chapter
CCA Florida
9-17-04
Your support is needed at the scheduled FWC meeting! Please
make every
effort to attend and have our position heard. We are planning an
organizational meeting for Monday, September 20 in preparation for the
Wednesday meeting. Also, if you would like to participate in the planning
meeting scheduled for Monday please contact me at (941) 747-0500.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Byron Shinn
Time: 8:30 AM
Dates: September 22-24, 2004 (September 22
- Manatee Rules)
Place: St. Petersburg Hilton
333 First Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727/894-5000 FAX 727/894-7655
FWC SETS
SEPT. 22-24 MEETING AT ST. PETERSBURG
a.. Agenda (with links to attachments)
August 25,
2004
Contacts:
(wildlife and aquatic issues) Henry Cabbage (850)
488-8843
(marine
issues) Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554
The Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will
meet at the St. Petersburg Hilton Sept. 22-24.
Wednesday's
(Sept. 22) agenda includes a set of new rules
concerning manatee protection for the Tampa Bay area. Proposed rules would
limit motorboat speeds in portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas
counties. They would allow 25 mph in many of the marked channels and other
areas and would amend existing manatee protection zones in the vicinity of
the Tampa Electric Big Bend power plant.
The rule
proposals evolved from a yearlong process to evaluate
manatee protection zones and coordinate input from numerous stakeholders,
local governments and the advisory committee in the Tampa Bay area.
This will be
the final public hearing on the proposed rules and
they will take effect if passed by the Commission.
Wednesday's
agenda also includes establishing general
gun-vehicle permits for hunters who use the Holey Land, Rotenberger,
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor wildlife management areas.
Other matters
on Wednesday's agenda include review and
discussion of major proposed changes to wildlife and freshwater fisheries
regulations for 2005-06, a migratory bird regulations update and review and
discussion of a proposal to allow hunters to use crossbows during
muzzleloading gun season.
Staff reports
on Wednesday will include a family-hunting
opportunity update, a Wildlife Alert Program update and a report concerning
the FWC Law Enforcement Officer Training Academy.
Thursday's
agenda is devoted to marine fisheries management
issues, and includes a final public hearing on proposed blue crab rule
amendments to extend the moratorium on issuing new blue crab endorsements to
July 1, 2006, allow male blue crabs used as bait to attract female blue
crabs into peeler traps to be fed with a single bait fish, allow a vertical
or horizontal orientation of degradable panels in blue crab traps, and allow
the use of 16-gauge degradable staples in blue crab traps.
Commissioners
also will conduct a final public hearing on a
proposed rule amendment to allow sheepshead to be taken with a barbed spear
(gig) with no more than three prongs in the inland waters of Volusia County.
In addition,
the FWC will review and discuss draft rules for
dolphin and wahoo, including establishment of a 20-inch minimum size limit
for all harvest of dolphin on Florida's Atlantic coast, and a maximum
recreational harvest limit of 60 dolphin per vessel (except 10 dolphin per
paying passenger on vessels licensed as headboats).
Proposed
rules also would create a daily two-fish recreational
bag limit and a 500-pound commercial daily vessel limit for wahoo statewide,
designate dolphin and wahoo as restricted species, and require commercial
vessels on the Atlantic coast, harvesting dolphin and wahoo, to have a
federal permit in addition to a Saltwater Products License with a restricted
species endorsement.
Commissioners
will review and discuss draft rules regarding an
effort management program for the marine life (aquarium species) fishery, a
recreational daily bag limit of two red grouper (within the aggregate
five-grouper limit) per person in Gulf of Mexico state waters, net
specifications and various statutory repeals.
In other
marine fisheries action, the FWC will review and
discuss the blue crab effort management program and the Biscayne Bay wingnet
shrimp harvest season. The Commission also will consider the need to allow
the use of trap pullers on vessels used in aquaculture operations and
consider federal marine fisheries management issues.
Friday's
agenda includes review and discussion of FWC
legislative budget reductions and FWC legislative budget request amendments.
The meeting
will begin at 8:30 a.m. all three days, and FWC
meetings are open to the public.
The Hilton is
at 333 First Street South in St. Petersburg.
Anyone
requiring special accommodation to take part in the
meeting, because of a disability, should contact Cindy Hoffman at (850)
488-6411 at least five days in advance of the meeting. Hearing- or
speech-impaired persons can arrange assistance by calling (850) 488-9542.
HPC/CR
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Agenda items,
FWC meeting, Sept. 22-24
St.
Petersburg
Wednesday
1.. Recognition of biological administrator David T. Cox for
his 36 years of service
2.. Presentation of the Hunter Education Volunteer Award to
John T. and Norma Neenan
3.. Recognition of the Florida Sleepy Hill Middle School
Technical Student Association for its volunteer work at the Tenoroc Fish
Management Area
4.. Recognition of Commissioner John D. Rood for his five
years of service as an FWC Commissioner
5.. An address by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker
6.. An order to establish the number of general gun-vehicle
permits for Holey Land, Rotenberger, Everglades and Francis S. Taylor
wildlife management areas (WMAs)
7.. Manatee protection rules for the Tampa Bay area
8.. Review and discussion of major proposed changes to
wildlife and freshwater fisheries regulations for 2005-06
9.. Migratory bird regulations update
10.. Review and discussion of a proposal to allow crossbows
during muzzleloading gun season
11.. Staff reports concerning family hunting opportunities,
the Wildlife Alert Program and the FWC Law Enforcement Officer Training
Academy
Thursday
12.. A proposed rule to allow gigging of sheepshead in Volusia
County
13.. A proposed rule to allow feeding of male crabs used as
bait to attract female blue crabs into peeler traps, vertical or horizontal
orientation of degradable panels in blue crab traps, use of 16-gauge
degradable staples and extend the moratorium on issuing new blue crab
endorsements until July 1, 2006
14.. Review and discussion of a draft rule regarding net
specifications
15.. Review and discussion of draft rules for the Marine Life
Effort Management Program
16.. Review and discussion of draft rules for harvest of red
grouper in the Gulf of Mexico
17.. Review and discussion of workshop results and draft rules
on the harvest of dolphin and wahoo
18.. Review and discussion of the Blue Crab Effort Management
Program
19.. Review and discussion of draft rules and legislative
project to repeal statutes dealing with fish and wildlife issues
20.. Review and discussion of the wingnet shrimp harvesting
season in Biscayne Bay
21.. Review and discussion regarding trap pullers on vessels
used in aquaculture businesses
22.. Federal issues
23.. Update on the FWC's Boating Safety Program and the
Boating Advisory Council
Friday
24.. Review and discussion of FWC legislative budget
reductions
25.. Review and discussion of FWC legislative budget request
amendments
26.. Legislative report
27.. Executive director's report
8-23-04
Captains,
I
am enclosing a letter I sent to the Editors of the local newspapers. This is the
same grass that produces the fish your clients enjoy. Contact information is
included should you decide to write a letter.
Best
Rusty
The willful destruction of seagrass and mangroves on Jewfish Key is the
most unconscionable act I have experienced in my 24 years living on Longboat
Key. The dredging of a 6 foot deep channel and the clearing of mature mangroves
strikes right at the heart of what brought me to
Florida
. After two decades on the waters of
Sarasota
Bay
I appreciate the role of seagrasses in preserving the quality of life that
makes this such a valuable location to so many. The seagrass beds that are
largely out of sight are virtual “rainforests” providing benefits that few
realize. These threatened areas clean the waters that surround the islands. They
provide food for the seabirds we enjoy, and are nurseries for all the fish that
swim in local waters.
To dredge through this irreplaceable treasure, piling the debris on the
adjacent grass beds is a “rape” of the first magnitude. It is imperative
that those responsible for this horrible act be punished to the full extent of
the law. With rising property values, if we do not send a strong message to
those responsible, including jail time, then these acts will simply be the
“cost of doing business.”
There is ample evidence that destruction of this type has been dealt with
by fines and mitigation in the past, and that the mitigation has failed in the
long run. It will be an incredibly difficult process to replace the seagrasses
that were destroyed on Jewfish Key. It is up to those who love and respect this
resource to see that the area is restored to its former glory.
Persons wanting to help can write letters requesting the Longboat Key
Town Commission Commission, The Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers get
involved in the prosecution of those responsible.
If we are vigilant, we may begin a healing process and publicize the fact
that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.
Rusty
Chinnis
PO Box
67
Longboat
Key, Fl 34228
941-383-2900
Contacts:
Mr.
Wesley Crum
US
Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth Street Southwest
Atlanta
,
Georgia
30303
Ms.
Deborah Getzoff,
Esquire
Director
of District Staff & Management
Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
3804 Coconut Palm Drive
Tampa
,
Florida
33619
Mr.
Eric Gasch, PD-E
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box
4970
Jacksonville
,
Florida
32232-0019
Jay
Slack
Biologist,
Coastal Ecosystems Program
U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service
South
Florida Field Office
1339 20th Street
Vero Beach
,
FL
32960
The
Longboat
Key
Town
Commission
.
Town
of
Longboat
Key
51
Bay
Isles Rd.
Longboat
Key
,
FL
34228
Manatee
County Board of Commissioners
P. O. Box 1000,
Bradenton, FL 34206-1000
1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
CCA
FLORIDA
TAMPA
BAY MANATEE ZONE
ALERT!
PUBLIC
WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 22 AND 23
1. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Organize
your contacts to attend and speak at one of the FWC’s two public hearings
regarding proposed manatee protection rules for
Tampa
Bay
. The June 22 hearing will focus on
proposed zones in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. The June 23 hearing will
focus on proposed zones in
Manatee
County
.
2.
PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULE:
-
June 22, 2004
(
6:00 p.m.
)
A.P.
Leto
Comprehensive
High School
- Auditorium
4409 West Sligh Avenue
Tampa
,
Florida
-
June 23, 2004
(
6:00 p.m.
)
Manatee
County
Convention and Civic Center
One Haben Boulevard
Palmetto
,
Florida
For more information
regarding the hearings and proposed rules visit the FWC website at http://myfwc.com/psm/manatee/rules.htm
This Alert
Prepared By:
Ted Forsgren, CCA
Florida
(850) 224-3474
6-15-04
We will meet Tuesday night, June 15th, at the Bradenton
Yacht Club at 6:30!!!
I know this is short notice, but we have to get
a game plan to present information to FWC staff. Final ruling will occur in
September at the next scheduled FWC commission meeting. FWC staff will
inform commissioners of the input from citizens based on what they hear at
the meeting, next week, on the 23rd. We need you to be there to voice
concerns about the proposed speed zones and elimination of traditional water
sports areas! The outcome is critical to the quality of life we've
come to enjoy in Manatee Co.
FWC staff meeting, next
Wednesday, the 23rd of June at the Manatee Civic Center at 6:30!
We need your help! Please plan to attend both
meetings, but most important is the meeting on the 23rd! If you are
not interested and don't get involved now, don't complain about the
outcome!
Please see the attached document for more
information.
Please forward, print and post this
information to help inform others!
Tell all your boating friends, spread the word to
protect your boating rights!
6-5-04
Joe
McClash: regarding the (5 -10 story buildings..
8 -7 story buildings) Perico project.
If constructed as planned this will be totally out
of character
with anything in this part of Tampa Bay. Click
Here !
6-1-04
CALLS,
LETTERS & E-MAILS NEEDED TO URGE
GOVERNOR BUSH TO SUPPORT
SENATE BILL 540
"However, as
expected, manatee and other animal rights groups are claiming that SB 540 does
all sorts of bad things to manatees and they want..." Click Here!
3-31-04
Update on Manatee Boating Rules -
ACTION REQUESTED Please read the
important
message below from Byron Shinn.
As some of you may think the boating issues are a done deal---NOT TRUE!
We need your help!
Please respond and follow the requests below to contact our County
commissioners and the FWC Commissioners.
It is critical that you put these key points in your own words. They will
not respond to a number of blanket form letters. Please take a few moments
to reword these issues and make your point.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly, or Byron
at the numbers he's listed in his email.
Subject: Update on Manatee Boating Rules - ACTION REQUESTED
As many of you know the US Fish & Wildlife and Florida Fish & Wildlife
Commission still wants to destroy recreational boating and impose much
larger areas of idle speed in Manatee County.
Two key dates are upon us. One is this Friday, April 2, Jane von Hahmann
and county staff are meeting in Jacksonville with the US Fish & Wildlife and
the Florida Fish & Wildlife is meeting April 14. They will be
discussing
the additional slow speed zones their staff are demanding on April 14, in
Tallahassee.
You can read the staff recommendations at the following site:
http://floridaconservation.org/commission/2004/april/TB_FWC%20Apr-04.pdf
We need your e-mails to each group, they are keeping count.
ACTION STEPS
a.. E-mail the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commissioners with
a simple
direct letter. We have worked on key points noted here.
http://myfwc.com/aboutus/commiss.html
a.. We Strongly Support Manatee
County Ordinance
a..
Recreation areas were well thought out with enforcement and
safety in mind.
b.. Boating
rec. zones in the Manatee River and Warner's Bayou
are critical to our quality of life. These areas well thought out with
Manatee Protection Rules.
c.. Many
months of testimony and facts were reviewed with a
balanced protection plan.
d..
Enforcement had a large role in rules.
e.. Unanimous
vote of our commissioners 7-0 in support.
b.. E-mail Jane von Hahmann with simple direct letter.
mailto:jane.vonhahmann@co.manatee.fl.us
a.. Maintain
our recreation zones - with well thought out areas.
Manatee River and Warner's Bayou are critical to our quality of life.
b.. Maintain
our boat traffic corridors for access. Example -
Warner's Bayous' have slow speeds where shallow and /or narrow and
recreation zones where deeper and wider.
c.. Join Byron and Bob Greene in Tallahassee on April 14th.
Plans are
to fly up the afternoon of April 13th and return late on the 14th.
Please e-mail them as soon as possible and send me a copy for our
presentation and let me know if you can help in Tallahassee, Ted Forsgren of
the Florida CCA said we need at least 20 people.
Thanks for your help.
Byron Shinn
(941) 747-0500
(941) 792-1970 home
(941) 705-5579 cell
03-21-04
I
am sending this along to interested parties. I do not know much about this but
it does make interesting reading. In my mind its like passing the potatoes to
the devil. Neither Bush has credentials as stewards of our natural resources on
a state or national level. Maybe I'm getting a little gun shy with all of this!
Zach
I don't know how many of you
already received this, but if you didn't, here is some Good news!
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NEWS RELEASE
(NOTE: Karen this is the first of many
e-mails that will be sent out today by
regional reps throughout Floridato our
supporters!)
FISHING CAPTAINS OUR PRAYERS HAVE
BEEN ANSWERED!
Please see below, I have not had a chance to
change my stationary--it is that important!
March 19, 2004
Together we shall not fail! SOS Members, please send in
contributions to the following environmental groups A.S.A.P. to
help them win their legal battle to keep Florida fishing waters clean
from pollutants from Piney Point!(Please forward this e-mail on to ten
of your friends and ask them to do the same!)
Sierra Club at their website http://www.sierraclub.org/
NCRD at their website http://www.nrdc.org/
Please read the press release below to see why I am so excited!
Tight lines Captains!
Pauline Blocker, President
Save Our Sea-life. Org
P.O. Box 3432
Placida, Florida, 33946
----- Original Message -----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18 , 2004 CONTACT:
Annie E. Strickler (202) 675-2384
CONSERVATION GROUPS ASK FEDERAL BUSH ADMINISTRATION
TO PROTECT
FLORIDA'S WATERS
FLORIDA GETTING FREE PASS TO POLLUTE FROM FEDS
Tallahassee, Florida - Two national conservation groups
are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take over
the water pollution control duties of the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP).
The groups, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and the Sierra
Club, and a Florida resident, Linda Young, said they will sue EPA to
compel it to enforce the federal Clean Water Act and ensure
Florida's waters are fishable,
(emphasis added)swimmable and drinkable.
"As Floridians, our way of life depends on clean rivers and
unpolluted beaches," said Linda Young, Southeast director of the
Clean Water Network.
"Governor Bush and the federal Bush administration are more
interested in protecting corporate polluters than our state's
waterways. We have no other choice but to sue to force them to take
action."
The environmental groups cite numerous examples of how the federal
Bush administration has turned a blind eye while the Jeb Bush
administration let industries dump unsafe levels of pollution into
state waterways. For
example:
-- Across the state, industrial-scale dairies are polluting
Florida waters with manure and excess nutrients, but the state only
has established voluntary protections, which a Florida judge this
month flatly concluded violates the Clean Water Act.
-- Unpermitted pollution from industrial mining pits in Charlotte,
Hardee and other counties has seeped or spilled into rivers, streams
and lakes, causing algal blooms and killing fish.
-- Paper mills in the state are operating under permits that expired
up to a decade ago, and their discharges contain dioxin, one of the
most toxic man-made substances on Earth. DEP claims it has no
authority to force the mills to meet water quality standards for this
deadly chemical. "The Jeb Bush administration has failed
Florida communities time and time again, and the Bush administration
in Washington has consistently ignored the state's
failures," said David Bookbinder, the Sierra Club's litigation
director. "There is a better way. By asking that EPA take control
of the situation, we are hoping to hold all parties accountable for
enforcing
the Clean Water Act. Both Bush administrations should be protecting
the waters that Floridians use for fishing, swimming and
drinking."
When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, it gave EPA
the
responsibility for ensuring compliance. Over the years the agency
turned
over to the states the job of issuing pollution permits and taking
enforcement actions. Florida assumed that role in 1995, but, according
to
NRDC and the Sierra Club, has done an "utterly miserable
job." After years
of watching DEP do virtually nothing to protect Florida's waters, the
two
groups will now sue to force EPA to reassume control over permits and
enforcement in the state.
"It's the big corporate polluters and wealthy developers
who are
benefiting from DEP's failure to enforce the law," said Jessica
Landman, a
NRDC senior attorney. "And who's paying the price? Florida
residents and
visitors who want to go swimming or fishing without worry, or, for
that
matter, take a drink from the tap. It's their health - and their
livelihoods - that are at risk."
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, non-profit
organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists
dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.
Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than
1million members and e-activists nationwide, served from offices in
New York, Washington, Santa Monica and San Francisco. More
information is available at NRDC's Web site, http://www.nrdc.org/.
The Sierra Club's members are 700,000 of your friends and neighbors.
Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and
the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential
grassroots environmental organization. More information is available
at Sierra Club's website, http://www.sierraclub.org/.
|
2/02/04
James A. Zacharias
P.O. Box 243
Cortez, Fl. 34215
941-795-5026
To the editor:
As a member of the grass roots initiative
group responsible for bringing the Manatee County Forever sales tax issue
to the ballot in March, I would personally like to thank the editorial board of
the Bradenton Herald for their excellent insight as to the value of this
referendum.
The bottom line is quality of life in
Manatee County for us, our children, and grandchildren. I was very fortunate to
have been raised in Manatee and Sarasota Counties where as a child I developed a
deep and abiding love of the land and water. This has carried over in to my
adult life and has been primarily responsible for my choice of a career as a
professional fishing guide. One of the most often heard comments from the
many visitors to our area that fish with me is how much they prefer Manatee
County to other areas of Florida because we have been successful in holding the
line with development along our coastlines, rivers and streams. This success of
course is visually pleasing, but also contributes greatly to the quality of of
our waters and marine resources.All of this counties business people should be
acutely aware of how vitally important this is to our well being economically.
There is a definite attraction of a non urbanized/suburbanized natural setting
that attracts a high quality tourist. Think of all the visitors that have
eventually made Manatee their home just because of these attributes. We need to
protect the "goose" (as in golden egg fame)!
We need help, not only with your vote in
March, but with dollars now in order to get the good word out. To all
individuals who love Manatee County, businesses and corporations that do so well
here, please contribute to insure the passage of this measure. No amount is too
small. Please go to www.manateecountyforever.org
where you can access a contribution form.
Thank you-
Capt. J. "Zach" Zacharias
December 17, 2003
Dear SOS Supporters in Tampa Area:
The following e-mail was sent to Jonathan Alden, Senior
Assistant General Counsel, FDEP; et al including your County Commissioners so
hopefully they will not continue to be misled by FDEP representatives
statements. Copies have also gone to several environmental attorneys and
we have a few other things working at the same time. You can help us try
to keep this issue in the news and spread the word, especially to fishing
guides. Also follow-up with a personal contact to your county
commissioners, newspapers, senators and house representatives. We
need your help to keep the pressure on to stop these toxic dispersions once
and for all. We do not know the long-term affects these toxins and
pathogens will have on sea life and humans. There is also the issue
of the leaching that has occurred over the past years into fresh
water aquifers in your area from the earthen berms at Piney Point and other
such old phosphate sites.
We will be working through the holidays to keep the pressure on
throughout the state and beyond!
Happy Holidays to you and your families,
Pauline Blocker, Pres.
S.O.S.
Posted Dec. 2003
The county intends to fill in some near shore reefs on
Siesta Key, one just south of the Point Of Rocks, and the other just north of
the park at Midnight Pass know as the Salomon Reef. You can view the area
at www.beachstudy.com
in the areas proposed to fill.
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