Saving Florida’s Aquatic Preserves
Florida’s Aquatic Preserves are in deep trouble. We need your help to save them. The Florida Legislature has released plans for deep cuts to the state program that protects our Aquatic Preserves; cuts that if approved will close six offices and eliminate 23 staff positions charged with protecting half of the state’s network of 41 Aquatic Preserves. That’s right…the Florida Department of Environmental Protection protects and conserves 4 million acres of Florida’s finest marine and coastal resources with a budget of less than $2 million. This program has already been cut 25 percent over the last three years to offset budget deficits.
Why should you care? If you care about our quality of life in Southwest Florida, our local economy, and our environment and wildlife, then you should care because Floridians will lose if we shut down our Aquatic Preserve program. We are fortunate to have Rookery Bay and Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserves here in Collier County. If you live in Lee County, you have Aquatic Preserves in Estero Bay, Matlacha Pass, Pine Island, Charlotte Harbor, and Lemon Bay… a total of 41 Preserves around the State established by the Florida Legislature with strong and vocal support from Floridians like us over the last 40 years.
Like many of you, I am retired and have chosen to live here in Southwest Florida partly because of our beautiful pristine beaches and coastal waters. I spend much of my time fishing and boating in Rookery Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands, and there is nothing else like it. The sport fishing is outstanding, and I see something new and different on every trip. My quality of life is directly linked to DEP’s protection of these special places.
Aquatic Preserves are not just about boating and fishing, although that reason alone is justification enough to continue protecting them…Florida brings in over $4 billion each year from sport fishing. Aquatic Preserves are powerful economic engines that drive local tourism, including eco-tours, boat rentals, kayaking, birding, and nature photography, to name a few. Our Aquatic Preserves provide habitats and refuge for wildlife: Manatees, shorebirds, sea turtles, ospreys, herons, crabs, shrimp and fish all find their homes and feeding grounds in these special places. DEP staff work hard every day to protect them through habitat restoration, environmental indicator monitoring, education and stewardship.
What can you do to help? Take 5 minutes to send an email to State Senator Garrett Richter (garrett.richter.s37@flsenate.gov) and State Representatives Matt Hudson (matt.hudson@myfloridahouse.gov),Trudi Williams (trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov), Jeanette M. Nuñez (Jeanette.Nunez@myfloridahouse.gov) and Kathleen Passidomo (kathleen.passidomo@myfloridahouse.gov) and urge them to support the Governor’s recommended budget for Florida’s Aquatic Preserves, which keeps the program intact. Let DEP’s new Secretary Herschel Vinyard (herschel.vinyard@dep.state.fl.us) know of your support by copying him on your email message. It’s time for Floridians to once again stand together and take action to protect and preserve our coast and our quality of
life.
Bruce Robertson is president of Friends of Rookery Bay.