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Florida’s Coastal and Ocean Future: A Blueprint for Economic and Environmental Leadership 9/12/2006 flfuture.pdf News Release

Executive Summary

Nothing defines Florida more than its coast. People come from around the world to swim, boat, scuba dive, surf, fish, kayak, enjoy our beaches, and see our unique coastal wildlife. The coast is Florida’s economic engine. But alarming changes are taking place, from plummeting fish catches to outbreaks of harmful algae, dying marine life, and beach closures.

In 2005, tourists were greeted with algae-covered beaches and dead fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees washing ashore. Hemmed in by development, our beaches are eroding and our reefs and fisheries continue to decline. Florida’s next governor can—and must—boldly act to stop this alarming decline and to reform coastal management policies before we lose the natural resources that fuel our economy and our identity as Floridians.

A Call to Action for Florida’s Coast and Oceans

A retiree trying his luck fishing off a pier in Pensacola describes one of the problems plainly: “Twelve years ago, you could catch three coolers (of fish) in three hours,” he said. “Now, you’re lucky to get a cooler in three days.”

Declining fish catch is just one symptom caused by a number of threats to the health and continued productivity of Florida’s ocean and coast: unwise coastal development, pollution, offshore drilling, overfishing and destructive fishing practices, lack of a comprehensive management system, and global warming.

Florida restaurants, once renowned for fresh local seafood, are coming up short on popular local dishes as species decline and reliance on imported foreign seafood grows. Higher prices at local seafood markets are forcing consumers to turn to farm-raised imported seafood, and reduced catch limits on many species are frustrating both commercial fishermen and recreational anglers. Once-abundant species in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico—including red snapper, a variety of groupers, red drum, amberjack, and black sea bass—are now classified by the government as “overfished,” or severely depleted. And pollution is taking a toll on the fish that remain: several wild Florida fish are too contaminated with mercury to eat.

Among the states, Florida in particular has much to lose: Nearly 86 million tourists visited in 2005, making Florida one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Tourism generated more than $63 billion in 2005 and created more than 944,000 jobs. The state is the number-one SCUBA diving destination in the United States and produces many of the world’s top surfers. Florida’s recreational fishery is among the largest in the country: Recreational fishing expenditures are $8.3 billion, including everything from food, lodging, bait, charter, equipment, and gas.

The state’s coastal constituency is growing in size and voice, alarmed by the changes t  our beaches and our waters. Now our leaders can—and must—take action to protect ourmarine and coastal ecosystems by:

1. Strengthening controls on coastal development.
2. Reducing the pollution that degrades Florida’s waters, and maintaining, if not improving, water quality standards.
3. Keeping offshore oil drilling away from Florida’s economically valuable beaches.
4. Ending overfishing and preserving marine and coastal ecosystems.
5. Helping Florida become a leader in reducing pollution sources, especially carbon dioxide emissions, that contribute to sea level rise and more intense hurricanes.
6. Strengthening governance by establishing unified, coordinated leadership for ocean and coastal resources.

Florida’s next Governor and Cabinet, and Florida’s Legislature must act urgently to stop the coast’s alarming decline before we lose the natural resources that fuel our state’s economy.