Date: June 13, 2000
Contact: Gary Appelson
Phone: (325) 373-6441
TALLAHASSE, FLORIDA – Tuesday, June 13th, 2000, the Florida Governor and Cabinet offered a resolution honoring the hard work and dedication of Florida’s Marine Turtle Permit Holders, those people permitted by the state to monitor the state’s sea turtle nesting beaches. The Marine Turtle Permit Holders comprise a diverse network of hundreds of volunteer individuals, and others representing conservation organizations, and research institutions. In addition, the resolution designated the months of “June through October as Sea Turtle protection Months” in Florida in “an effort to assist the Permit Holders in their work of protecting Florida’s endangered and threatened sea turtles”. The resolution was sponsored by State Treasurer Bill Nelson, a long term supporter of sea turtle conservation in Florida*.
The CCC is an active member of Florida’s Marine Turtle Permit Holders. STSL uses its permit to conduct sea turtle education Programs for educators and the general public. STSL commends the Cabinet’s efforts at officially recognizing the state’s Marine Turtle Permit Holders and for again highlighting the summer months as Sea Turtle Protection months. According to STSL’s Gary Appelson, “the state’s Permit Holders compromise an amazing and unique network of human resources that span the entire state.”
The resolution noted that:
“Over 90% of all sea turtle nesting in North America takes place on Florida beaches”.
“Florida’s Marine Turtle Permit Holders aid and abet the efforts of the State of Florida to ensure the safety and health of Florida’s marine turtles, their nests, and hatchlings”.
“Marine Turtle Permit Holders walk countless miles and donate thousands of hours during marine turtle nesting season to protect and document nests”.
“Marine Turtle Permit Holders work closely with state, county, and local governments for the protection and conservation of threatened and endangered marine turtles”.
In 1989 the state of Florida, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, began the Index Nesting Beach Survey (INBS) to monitor and evaluate sea turtle nesting throughout the state. The Program, through a standardized method of training volunteers and collecting data, monitors 31 beaches covering hundreds of miles of Florida’s coastline and accounting for approximately 80% of the reported statewide sea turtle nesting activity. In addition there is a statewide survey of all other nesting beaches in Florida. The beach surveys are conducted by the volunteers and organizations referred to as the Marine Turtle Permit Holders.
There are hundreds of people, permitted and trained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to participate in marine turtle conservation for the benefit of the state. In addition to counting and monitoring turtles and their nests, they are involved in many aspects of sea turtle protection in Florida. Permit Holders rescue and rehabilitate stranded turtles. They develop and distribute educational material and Programs to Florida citizens about endangered sea turtles. Permit Holders work within their local coastal communities to minimize the harmful impacts to marine turtles caused by lighting, pollution, and other human activities.
However, through the dedicated hard work of the Turtle Permit Holders many of these threats will be reduced or eliminated. According to Gary Appelson, “The state’s Turtle Permit Holders perform a great service for the state. They are an essential and invaluable component of Florida’s sea turtle conservation and protection Program.”
*The resolution is the brainchild of Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson and his staff. While a member of the U.S. Congress, Bill Nelson sponsored the House bill establishing the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge which protects some of Florida’s important nesting beaches. Commissioner Nelson has a long history of support for sea turtle protection.
CABINET RESOLUTION-Tuesday, June 13, 2000
Whereas, over ninety percent of all sea turtle nesting in North America takes place in Florida; and
Whereas, over ninety percent of all sea turtle nesting in North America takes place in Florida; and
Whereas, florida houses the most important loggerhead sea turtle nesting beaches in the western hemisphere and, therefore, is in a unique position to protect, conserve, and manage threatened and endangered marine turtles, five species of which live in Florida; and
Whereas, florida houses the most important loggerhead sea turtle nesting beaches in the western hemisphere and, therefore, is in a unique position to protect, conserve, and manage threatened and endangered marine turtles, five species of which live in Florida; and
Whereas, each year Marine Turtle Permit Holders willingly donate thousands of hours and walk countless miles of Florida beaches during marine turtle nesting season to document and protect marine turtle nests; and
Whereas, Marine Turtle Permit Holders volunteer their time to prevent threats of harm and to rescue and rehabilitate injured and stranded marine turtles and hatchlings; and
Whereas, the Marine Turtle Permit Holders donate hundreds of hours to develop and distribute educational material and Programs to Florida’s citizens about threatened and endangered marine turtles; and
Whereas, these volunteers work within their local communities in Florida’s coastal counties to minimize the harmful impacts to marine turtles caused by lighting, pollution, and other human activities; and
Whereas, Marine Turtle Permit Holders often work closely with state, county, and local governments for the protection and conservation of threatened and endangered marine turtles; and
Whereas, many Marine Turtle Permit Holders work in facilities in Florida that donate staff time and materials for the display of rehabilitation and educational efforts on behalf of Florida’s marine turtles; and
Whereas, many Marine Turtle Permit Holders at Florida educational institutions are involved in research and conservation activities for the protection of threatened and endangered marine turtles.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby acknowledge and applaud the volunteer individuals and organizations that are
for their service to the State of Florida, working to protect and conserve Florida’s threatened and endangered marine turtles.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the months of June through October are hereby designated as Sea Turtle Protection Months in a n effort to assist the Marine Turtle Permit Holders in their work of protecting Florida’s threatened and endangered sea turtles.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee on this the 13th day of June, 2000.
Jeb Bush, Governor
Katherine Harris, Secretary of State
Bob Butterworth, Attorney General
Robert Milligasn, Comptroller
Bill Nelson, Treasurer
Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture
Tom Gallagher, Commissioner of Education
Sea Turtle Conservancy
