Dear Friends,
 
Summer is a great time to think beyond our overfishing work and learn about innovative initiatives in other parts of the marine world. Here are a few updates from colleagues in the state, regional, federal and even presidential realm:
 
1.       North Carolina launches online angler catch log. Earlier this month, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries launched an Internet-based electronic reporting system where anglers can log saltwater catches to help state fisheries managers with recreational fishing surveys. This is a great way for fishermen to contribute to conservation and management. For more information, visit the NC DMF website and click under Hot Topics.
 
2.       Scientists, managers develop fishery independent monitoring program. Recognizing the need for increased data, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council convened a workshop last November to begin design of a multi-species, fishery independent survey program within the South Atlantic snapper grouper complex. Importantly, fishermen and other stakeholders took part in the workshop, the results of which can be viewed in the attached final report.
 
3.       NOAA wants your input on its strategic plan. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has been developing its Next Generation Strategic Plan, including its mission statement, vision of the future, long-term goals and five-year objectives. This is a great opportunity to weigh in on the future of how the U.S. manages its ocean resources-click here to provide feedback.
 
4.       Obama administration announces first National Ocean Policy. Last week the president signed an historic Executive Order that establishes a plan for conservation and sustainable use of U.S. ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. The policy emphasizes ecosystem-based management and is an important step for the long-term health of our nation’s oceans and fish, as well as communities that depend on them. Please click here for more information. 
 
Please pass on other news of note that you think others should hear about in an upcoming newsletter. Until then, I hope you’re getting lots of time in and on the water this summer!
 
Leda
 
             
Leda Dunmire
Senior Associate, Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast  |  The Pew Charitable Trusts, Pew Environment Group
93 Marina Avenue, Key Largo, FL 33037
p: 305.393.0934  |  e: LDunmire@pewtrusts.org  |  www.sustainablesoutheastfisheries.org | www.pewenvironment.org

• http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jul/22/students-use-their-artistic-skills-to-create-at/
• By Marilyn Bauer

• Posted July 22, 2010 at 12:57 a.m.

Stuart Beach Mural Progress

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Artist Brenda Leigh, center, talks with Jensen Beach High School students Taylor Komara, 18, left, and Nicole McDonald, 17, right, about the placement of a handmade octopus that will eventually be part of the three-dimensional mural being built around the restrooms at Stuart Beach while the students were there to work Wednesday morning. The students used clay to create pieces for the mural in their art classes, taught by teacher Tracy Canada, at the high school.

Photo by Alex Boerner

After adhering a clay angelfish to the wall of the restrooms at Stuart Beach, Christy Schneyman, 16, removes excess cement from around the edges of the sculpture.

STUART — A group of Jensen Beach High School students spent most of the day at Stuart Beach Wednesday creating a sculpted, mosaic mural for the surface of the public restrooms.

Part of the county’s art in public places program, the mosaic has brought together community members, local artists, county government and Treasure Coast businesses in a beautification that is shaping up to be a city landmark.

Beach-goers stop and stare as they pass the restrooms on their way to the sand, calling out encouragement to the students. County commissioners have been out to photograph the work in progress and many local residents have participated by donating materials from shell rock to seashells for the walls and strands of pearls, which will be carefully arranged in a mermaid’s hair. Local artists have stopped by to help and many merchants have brought over bins of tiny glass tiles.

“The Living Reef” has become a true community project.

”These students are my Sculpture 1 kids,” said Tracy Canada, art teacher at JBHS. “They have not had a lot of experience, but this project worked right into the curriculum. They learned how to work with clay making fish, glazing them and firing them. Today we are attaching their fish to the mural.”

The 300 fish are magnificent, as are the moray eels, sea horses, manta rays, dolphin, sea turtles, coral and starfish.

“The students made one fish and then created a mold and were required to make 10 more fish,” said Canada. “They learned a lot about Florida reef fish and our marine biology teacher worked with them on making them as close to the real species as possible.”

Drawing student Tara Pusateri, 18, who worked on the project, said it was a great project and very environmental. “I love it.”

The original design for the mural, which will be completed by Aug. 31, is by Taylor Komara, 18, who won a design competition and internship that brought in more than 120 submissions.

“I wanted to do an underwater scene with a mermaid and use items from the beach to make the mural look realistic,” said Komara. “Then we started sculpting. It’s really amazing, it’s become something else.”

Stuart artist Brenda Leigh was named the artist on the project and has worked with the students to make the restrooms a masterpiece. Her expertise in mural painting has added a whole other dimension to the project, as has her pet African gray parrot, who sits on a branch watching all the activity.

“You can see that we took a beautiful piece of artwork from Taylor and then transformed the concept into a complete design,” she said while buttering the back of a ceramic fish to be mounted just above the bas relief of coral. “I have loved every single day I have come out here. Building the reef was so fantastic.”

Leigh will continue working on the project fitting in the glass tiles and painting the coral reef in Stuart and then moving down to Hobe Sound to work on the second installation, a three-dimensional work about nesting sea turtles. The Hobe Sound project will begin Aug. 15 and be completed in early fall.

Linda Fasano, public arts administrator for Martin County, was the lightning rod behind the project. She sent out the call to artists an, worked on allocating the $15,000 for the Stuart project and securing an additional $5,000 from the Jupiter Island Art Committee for Hobe Sound. When she realized most of the student applications were from Jensen Beach High School, she reached out to Canada to include more of her class in the project.

“We want these murals to educate the public on turtle nesting, costal reef preservation and beach restoration,” Fasano said. “When we decided not to continue taking shells and coral from the beach, we worked with New Wave Taxidermy who taught the students how to make rubber molds of the coral and shells.”

“It was fun,” said Nicole McDonald, 17, while deciding exactly where to place a large pink grouper. “The mural is related to our area and it was interesting to learn about the fish.”

Please take a minute to click your personal thanks to Obama on the link provided.  DV

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/129f0e89ea9b1799

Dear Friends ,
At a time when our nation continues to struggle with the heartbreaking devastation of BP’s Gulf oil spill, good news for the future health of oceans and coasts has been delivered.  Yesterday, President Obama issued an Executive Order establishing a National Policy for our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.  Like the Clean Air Act for our air and the Clean Water Act for our water, now, at long last, we have a policy for our oceans.    

This simple act was anything but.  With a stroke of a pen, the President made healthy oceans a national value, and laid out a vision of healthy, safe and productive coasts and oceans for ours and for future generations.  This vision now becomes the operational mission of the 20 federal agencies that manage our oceans and coasts, and they will be required to coordinate their efforts under a mandate to protect, maintain and restore ocean health.

This paradigm shift seemed to happen so fast, but it was years in the making.  On June 12th, 2009, Obama charged the Interagency Task Force to make recommendations for this policy and how to implement it, and to define a framework for coastal and marine spatial planning.  The Task Force, led by CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley, did incredible work over the course of the year, engaging a broad array of stakeholder groups and citizens, and delivering the well framed documents that were finalized today.  However, the foundations of this milestone were established even earlier with the 2003 Pew Oceans Commission Report and the 2004 U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report, which largely agreed and highlighted the need for a national ocean policy. Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) has been fighting for Oceans-21, a bill intended to turn the commission recommendations, including enactment of a National Ocean Policy, into law since 2005.

So, today’s announcement is neither small nor sudden.  It is a massive achievement built on years of passion and commitment.  Ocean Champions applauds President Obama for his leadership.  We recognize the good work of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, including Chairwoman Nancy Sutley and NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco.  We also salute the leadership shown by Congressman Farr and many others in building the ocean policy issue to the point where it was ready for Executive action.  Today’s action provides hope for a future with clean coastal and ocean waters, abundant wildlife, prosperous fisheries, and thriving coastal communities.
As you well know, establishing a National Ocean Policy has been a priority for Ocean Champions since our inception.  Together we helped make it happen.  Congratulations to all who worked hard for this important victory.
For the oceans,
The Ocean Champions Team
P.S.  Please click here to thank President Obama for his leadership.

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/129f0e89ea9b1799

I hope the Florida legislature allows voters to express this at the polls. Today’s the special session on offshore oil to determine whether it goes on the ballot or not.     DV

For Immediate Release: 7/19/10
For More Info: Mark Ferrulo, Progress Florida
727-289-2612
 

TALLAHASSEE – On the eve of a special legislative session on oil drilling, a new poll shows Floridians overwhelmingly support being given a chance to vote on allowing oil drilling in state waters. A statewide poll of 1,143 registered voters conducted July 15-17 shows that not only do a majority Floridians oppose oil drilling in state waters, but also that 71% support being given a chance to vote on the issue.
The new poll also shows that Floridians want their state legislators to vote in favor of placing a constitutional amendment that would permanently ban oil drilling within 10 miles of our coast, on this November’s statewide ballot. Results showed 36% of voters said they would be more likely to re-elect their state legislator if they voted in favor of placing a constitutional amendment that banned oil drilling within 10 miles of Florida’s coast on the November ballot, with 30% less likely and 33% unsure. The poll has a 2.8% margin of error.
Poll results:
 
Do you support oil drilling within 10 miles of Florida’s coast?  Yes 28% No 50% Unsure 21%
 
Do you believe Floridians should be allowed to vote on whether or not to ban oil drilling within 10 miles of the state’s coast? Yes 71% No 17% Unsure 10%
 
Now, how would you react if your state legislator voted to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot for voters to decide whether or not to ban oil drilling within 10 miles of Florida’s coast? More likely 36% Less likely 30% Unsure 33%
 
How do you describe your political views? Conservative 40% Moderate 40% Liberal 19%
 
 
“To protect Florida’s beaches now and for our children and grandchildren, we need to give the people a chance to vote on an amendment banning near shore drilling on November’s ballot,” said Eric Draper, Director of Audubon of Florida. “Floridians deserve a chance to amend our constitution to protect our way of life and this poll shows voters want that chance.”

“This is not a partisan issue,” said Manley Fuller, director of the Florida Wildlife Federation. “All Floridians, regardless of political affiliation, are harmed by oil spills.”

“Floridians get it! They understand that the citizens should decide the fate of our most important natural resources and not outside special interests,” said Gary Appleson, policy coordinator for the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

The poll was commissioned by Progress Florida, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Wildlife Federation, Hands Across the Sand and Audubon of Florida. The statewide poll of 1,143 registered Florida voters was conducted July 15-17 by Washington, DC based ISSI and has a margin of error of 2.8%.
 
# # # Special thanks to Richard Charter

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
Monday, July 19, 2010
Contact:  Aaron McLear
Rachel Arrezola
916-445-4571
 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement on President Barack Obama establishing a National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes to strengthen ocean governance and coordination, establish guiding principles for ocean management and adopt a flexible framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning:
 
“I’m pleased the White House has continued to focus attention on protecting our nation’s coasts and oceans. The Deepwater Horizon spill has emphasized what a vital role our oceans play in our environment, economy and overall well-being. California has long demonstrated leadership with ocean and coastal protection and we stand ready to continue assisting President Obama at all levels of government to ensure that we safeguard our treasured natural resources.”
 
Governor Schwarzenegger has made California a national leader in ocean protection:
·         In 2004, the Governor unveiled his Ocean Action Plan that set a national standard for the management of ocean and coastal resources, created the first Cabinet-level Ocean Protection Council in the nation and signed legislation increasing ocean protection, including limits on trawl-net fishing and water quality testing. California also adopted the country’s strictest rules on cruise ship dumping – standards that have since been expanded to cargo ships.
·         In 2006, the Governor joined with the Governors of Washington and Oregon to form the West Coast Governors’ Agreement On Ocean Health to protect not just California’s shores, but the entire West Coast. The Action Plan, released in 2008, outlines how the states can work together and with federal authorities to improve our ocean in seven priority areas. It includes 26 specific actions to help combat polluted runoff and reduce marine garbage, advocate for stricter vessel emission standards, prevent invasive species, oppose new offshore oil and gas development and explore alternatives, improve ocean research, and increase ocean education, among others.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Special thanks to Richard Charter